The legal or biological relationship between a child and his or her biological father. Paternity law deals with the rights and obligations of both the biological or natural father and the child to each other as well as to others. A child’s paternity may be relevant to issues of legitimacy, inheritance and rights to a putative father’s title or surname, as well as the biological father’s rights to access and obligations for child support.

Refers to the terms of a contract or a judgment or a rule of law which it is possible, where necessary, to make people obey.

A decision of a court regarding the rights and liabilities of the parties to legal proceedings. Judgments generally provide the court’s explanation as to why it has chosen to make a particular decision.