If parents are not married when a child is born, paternity must be established. If the mother is married, her legal husband is legally presumed to be the father, even if some other man in fact is the father.
Paternity is established one of two ways in Minnesota: 1) By the parents signing a Recognition of Parentage which is filed with the Minnesota Department of Vital Statistics OR 2) By Court Order.
NOTICE TO UNMARRIED FATHERS: If you sign a recognition of parentage, this does not automatically give you the right to visitation or custody. You must file in district court a separate action asking to have your rights established to custody and visitation. Do this as soon as possible.
If you find yourself subject to request to submit to genetic testing to determine paternity, there will be a court order which establishes your paternity and it is that first order which will also determine custody and visitation rights to the child as an initial determination. So it is very important to obtain legal advice BEFORE ANY COURT ORDER IS ENTERED.
JOHNSON LAW FIRM,P.A. 
