A paternity action is an action which may be started by a mother or a father, or the State to establish legal rights regarding a child.  Legal paternity may be demonstrated when a parent's name is on a birth certificate and an Affidavit of Paternity is filed with the Department of Social and Health Services over the name of a stranger.  But, how does the law determine the rights between parents?  How does a parent get his or her name on a birth certificate if it wasn't put there in the hospital?  He or she files a paternity action.  The State also has an interest in insuring that a child is cared for by his or her parents.  When the State is involved, "care" usually means financial care.  The State will start a paternity action to require a parent pay child support.  If a child is collecting financial assistance from the State through a parent or other guardian, the State will start a paternity action to require that both parents provide support for the child.