paternity

Paternity or Paternity Law is a branch of the Family Law which deals with the establishment of fatherhood and for it to be duly acknowledged before the law. The establishment of paternity used to be as simple as signing as the child’s father on the birth certificate. However, the law now dictates certain legal actions for paternity to be duly established and acknowledged. If you are considering or in the process of establishing your child’s paternity, talk to our law firm so you take all the necessary steps to make this endeavor a success.

Challenges in Establishing Paternity
Couples who bear children outside of marriage are likely to face the challenges of paternity. The establishment could be simple if both parties, the child’s mother and father, duly accept that the father is the child’s biological father. Both parties will execute and sign an affidavit declaring the child’s paternity and this document will be very difficult to change in the future.

However, certain situations present challenges in establishing paternity. For instance, a man who believes that he is the child’s biological father may establish paternity. However, if the woman is uncertain in any way about it, the paternity may be contested and disputed. In other instances, the woman may establish her child’s paternity before the law but if the man doubts the accuracy of this claim, establishing paternity may become a more complex process.

To fully verify the accuracy of the claim for paternity, scientific processes like DNA testing may be administered. After the determination of the child’s parentage, both parties will now receive orders for child support, visitation and custody from the court.

Consequences of Establishing Paternity
Establishing the child’s paternity can carry long-term consequences. Once the child’s paternity has been deemed by court as legitimate, the father can now enjoy certain rights and observe certain responsibilities to the child. Visitation and custodial rights may be awarded to him even if he is not married to the child’s mother. On the other hand, once paternity legitimation has commenced, the child’s father may need to provide retroactive payments for pre-natal needs, child birth, child care and other expenses incurred for the establishment of paternity.

On the other hand, the mother filing for her child’s paternity may now legally seek for support from the child’s father in raising their child. The father of the child is legally bound to provide financial assistance for child rearing. Moreover, both parties can draw visitation schedules for the child’s benefit.

Paternity Support from Rauseolaw
Establishment and dispute of paternity can be a messy battle, especially if one party claims while the other one denies. Whether you believe that you fathered a child that the mother so vehemently denies, or you bore a child which the biological father rejects, you need to get paternity support from a reputable law firm or law practitioner.

Rauseolaw is experienced in handling clients with paternity issues. Whether you want to exercise your rights as a father through custody and visitation, or claim child support for your child from his biological father, you need the legal system to back you up. Rauseolaw will walk you through the process of establishing paternity and assert your rights as a parent.