Establishing Paternity in South Carolina

A verified voluntary acknowledgment of paternity creates a legal finding of paternity without court ratification. Any signer may rescind within the earlier of 60 days or the date of an administrative or court proceeding about the child (such as a support case) in which the signer is a party. After 60 days, it may be challenged in court only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact, and support obligations continue during the challenge unless the court finds good cause. Paternity may also be established in a family court action, where the court may order the mother, alleged father and child to take genetic tests on its own motion or a party's.