Paternity Attorney in Pasadena

Legal Establishment of Paternity for Child Support

When a mother seeks child support from a father, she will need to legally establish paternity. The same is true for a father who wants child custody or visitation rights.

Paternity can be established through an Affidavit of Paternity, or by DNA testing. A parentage affidavit is a form signed by both parents attesting to the biological relationship between the father and child. Its primary purpose is to enable an unwed mother to establish paternity by adding the father's name to the child's birth certificate. If the father refuses to sign the affidavit, the matter will need to be addressed in court. If the court is required to adjudicate on paternity, it will usually request DNA testing. This is a form of genetic fingerprinting to establish the biological relationship between a parent and a child. 

If you are seeking custody or support for a child and need to establish paternity, contact a Pasadena family lawyer to find out more about the laws pertaining to paternity, how to file an affidavit, or arrange for DNA testing.

Understanding Paternity's Impact on Child Custody and Support

Establishing paternity is extremely important when it comes to child custody and child support. In custody cases, it will have a bearing on which spouse has physical custody of the child, or if there will be joint custody. If the mother is determined to be the primary caregiver, establishing paternity will give the father visitation rights. Legal custody (joint or sole) will only be granted to the father once his biological relationship with the child has been established. A parent who has legal custody is allowed to make decisions regarding the child's schooling, religion, health care and activities.

A mother and father, as well as a child, can legally request the establishment of paternity. Once the father's name is legally added to the child's birth certificate, the child will be entitled to benefits such as:

Searching for a lawyer for your family law case in Pasadena? When it comes to paternity cases, you need to obtain an experienced family lawyer in Pasadena. The Law Offices of Makupson & Howard can help establish paternity for your child. We are highly skilled in child support and custody cases involving paternity, and can competently guide you through this legal process.

To learn more read our blog that discusses establishing paternity:

• How is Paternity Established in California?

Contact a Pasadena Paternity Lawyer from our firm at (888) 328-2734 for reliable legal counsel regarding paternity issues.