Massachusetts Paternity Lawyer

Family Law Attorney Serving Massachusetts

The need for establishing paternity most commonly occurs between unmarried partners who remain unmarried although the mother became pregnant. To establish paternity requires either the filing of a paternity case in court for a judicially established paternity or the signing by both parents of a voluntary or a paternity acknowledgement form. Without question it is insufficient that solely verbal acknowledgements exist and in most cases the father's name on a birth certificate will not legally establish paternity.

For many years the establishment of paternity involved a court order but today this has become easier by means of a voluntary acknowledgement done with the paternity form. However if the paternity is disproved, such as by genetic marker testing, at some distant time then courts have made this very difficult to undo. In seeking to support the strength and enforceability of the paternity acknowledgement forms they are reluctant to allow these to be refuted at a later point. It is very important that a Massachusetts family law attorney be consulted before any such paper is signed as your future could be greatly compromised.

Legal Help with Paternity Cases in Massachusetts

The need to establish paternity is normally sought to resolve issues such as support for a child, custody and visitation rights, who has the authority to make decisions on behalf of a child or to secure inheritance rights for a child. While normally the establishment of paternity is sought by a mother for the purpose of necessary support there are many instances when the father will seek to have his legal status and rights confirmed by the courts.

Fathers who wish to have visitation rights or maintain custodial care over a child will be legally unable to do so if their paternity is in doubt. Often they seek recourse from child support demands or threatening situations for which they feel they are not responsible. Only by the establishment on non-paternal status can they then legally be relieved of the duty or obligation for a child.

At Rauseo Law, we have often found the need to counsel mothers in whether a paternity case should be filed at all. There are circumstances where patterns of abuse or the menace of potential harm might outweigh the advantages of support. If the father is unaware of the mother's location then the filing of a court case will inform him of where the mother and child live. When a child is born out of wedlock then the law is in favor of granting custody and control of the child to the mother. The establishment of paternity now gives the father access to rights in visitation and custody.

Paternity establishment is an area of the law which is best pursued with expert legal advice. Contact a Massachusetts paternity lawyer with any questions regarding domestic relations law. Our firm assists clients throughout the communities of Winchester, Wakefield, Saugus, Marblehead, Newburyport, Lowell, Lexington, Andover, Beverly, Cambridge, and Lynnfield.