Paternity

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Paternity or parentage cases will identify who is or who is not the father of a child who is born out of wedlock.  When one party contests the paternity allegations in a petition, DNA testing is generally completed.  For instance, the putative (or "alleged") father in a paternity action may require proof that he is the child's father before he consents to payment of support.  In other cases, the mother may contest the putative father's paternity when a man attempts to gain custody of or visitation with a child he believes to be his. If the parties agree, the putative father may sign a voluntarily acknowledgement of paternity in Court.

Paternity may also be established by circumstantial evidence, such as when a man takes the child into his home and holds the child out to the public as his own. A married man is presumed to be the father of a baby born to his wife during or shortly after their marriage.

The attorneys at our firm believe that loving fathers are critical to the development of children. The identification of a child’s biological father gives parents the opportunity to love and support their child – both financially and emotionally. It also gives your child an opportunity to develop a relationship with both parents. You and your family deserve it.