Paternity

When married parents have a child, the husband is presumed to be the father. When the parents are not married, unless the father signs an Affidavit of Parentage, paternity must be established by court order.

Paternity issues can determine rights regarding child support and parenting time.  Mothers may need to identify the father in order to obtain child support.  Fathers may need to establish paternity to establish their custody and parenting rights.  Men who do not believe they are the biological father of a child may need to seek a paternity test to get a court order that they are not the father.

Paternity cases can be complicated.  There are very specific laws that determine the time periods to establish paternity or to deny paternity and there are certain limitations on when and how paternity can be established or denied.  Understanding the necessary steps involved in a paternity matter requires working with an experienced attorney to make sure the necessary rules are followed and the proper evidence is presented to the court, whether it be an Affidavit of Parentage or a DNA test.