Establishing the paternity of a child is profoundly important. It can fulfill deep emotional and psychological needs for parents and children, and can allow for parent-child relationships to blossom. Paternity is also important from a legal perspective. If a child does not have a legally recognized father, that child is not eligible to receive the financial benefits that parent could otherwise provide, such as child support, health insurance coverage and rights to Social Security benefits and inheritance. Conversely, fathers who establish paternity gain legal rights to seek custody and visitation of their children and to participate in decisions that affect their children’s education and upbringing.