Objectives: to learn about the perception of men in the judicial process due to spousal violence about paternity.
Methods: a descriptive, qualitative study with nine men in the judicial process due to spousal violence. Data were collected through interviews; the men validated the data, which were systematized by the categorical thematic content analysis, and analyzed in light of scientific texts that discuss the subject.
Results: the study allowed the creation of three categories: the father is the example for the son; the father must provide for the son's needs; the father corrects the son.
Conclusions: that context reveals the need to re-signify paternity to influence children's education positively.