Comings and goings of “justice”: mothers and the dilemmas of subpoenaing in paternity lawsuits

Abstract

Based on the Center for Promotion of Filiation and Paternity (NPF)’s work, this text aims to explore mother’s perceptions about judicial acts in paternity lawsuits and cases for paternal name inclusion in the civil registry. This ethnographic work reflects on both the judicial obstacles of paternity recognition and the asymmetries of guarantee of rights. Accessing mothers’ perceptions about the participation of the father figure in the family’s daily life showed the mobilization of specific insights on the recognition of kinship and different possible forms of family relationships.