Establishing Paternity

Establishing paternity is the critical first step in establishing a parent-child relationship. Parentage may be established through the signing of a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (or VAP), legal adoption or by other means, including DNA testing. A paternity lawyer is crucial if you want to follow the paternity procedures correctly.

Once that relationship is established, a court may determine a parent’s rights to receive child support, allocate parental responsibilities for a child (child custody) and establish parenting time. Postnuptial agreements are handled here.

How Paternity Helps A Child

When parentage is established, a child has the right to a parent’s Social Security or veterans benefits, medical coverage, pensions and inheritance. This would include financial support, such as child support or contribution to a child’s expenses, including education, child care, extracurricular activities or uncovered medical expenses. Also, the medical genetic information of both parents is available for the child if needed for diagnosis and treatment of medical problems.

Contact An Attorney Today

To speak with one of our experienced lawyers about this or any related issues, contact our office today.