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Find Paternity Law Lawyer

Find Paternity Law Lawyer

Paternity Law

Paternity is defined as the legal obligations and rights given to the biological father of a child. Paternity can be a contentious issue, especially if a parent denies their relation to a child, such as a suspected parent of a child out of wedlock.


The Law Office of Martin Sir & Associates

43 years in practice
Adoption, Alimony, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce & Family Law
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Mansfield, Melancon, Cranmer & Dick, LLC - Attorneys at Law

2 years in practice
Divorce & Family Law, Paternity Law
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Calabrese Budner, LLP

37 years in practice
Divorce & Family Law, Divorce Law, Paternity Law
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Colorado Legal Group

6 years in practice
Divorce Law, Paternity Law
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Hoover Krepelka, LLP

63 years in practice
Alimony, At-Fault Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Contested Divorce
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Law Office of Steven C Benke

6 years in practice
Divorce & Family Law, Divorce Law, Paternity Law
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Creating the Link

Paternity can change the life of a child. Whether before the child is born or before they reach the age of majority, the creation of a paternity link can give a variety of benefits to the child.

Establishing Paternity

Paternity can be established in a variety of ways depending on the condition of the mother, the potential father, and the child. If the child has not yet been born, then a blood test can confirm paternity as early as 7-8 weeks into the pregnancy. This can be slightly invasive and difficult to obtain, particularly if the father is uncooperative.

If the child has been born, then a less invasive method can be used. By taking samples from the inner cheek of the potential father, mother, and child, known as buccal swabs, scientists can compare the DNA samples to determine paternity.

Paternity Benefits

If paternity is established, there are many benefits that can be conferred to the child. Paternity allows an individual to receive inheritance, life insurance, and other hereditary-based benefits such as social security. Additionally, once paternity is established, the mother may enforce her right to child support.

Fighting to Protect Your Interests

Determining paternity or enforcing paternity can be challenging if a father is not willing to accept paternity. In order to ensure that your interests are protected, you will need a family law attorney to ensure that paternity claims are enforced.

In order to achieve this best outcome, however, you will need an attorney who has the expertise and resources to take your case all the way. That’s why you should contact Attorney at Law. By partnering with AAL, you will be able to avoid slogging through the quagmire of unscrupulous lawyers looking to exploit your case.

At AAL, we only partner with the best firms in your area, helping you find the best attorney for your case. Don’t wait, contact AAL today for a free no-obligation consultation and begin your journey to justice.

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Paternity Law Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is paternity?

In the context of family law, paternity refers to the legal responsibility of fatherhood conferred on a parent. Paternity is a uniquely gendered issue due to the nature of biological reproduction. While there can be in doubt as to who is the mother of a child, the father can be more dubious if, for example, there is adultery or other circumstances that muddy the waters of paternity. 

The reason paternity is so important has to do with what responsibilities a father has. Whoever is assigned paternity has an obligation to support the child. This could include paying child support if the couple is not married or divorces after the birth of the child. Additionally, establishing a legal father allows the child to collect an inheritance, life insurance, and other benefits from the legal father.

2. How long does a father have to establish paternity?

While paternity can be established as soon as the child is born, if not sooner, paternity can be established after the child is born as well. In general, paternity can be established at any point before the child reaches 18, though some states may extend this to 21. 

This means that as long as the child has not reached the cutoff age, paternity can still be established. While it is possible to establish paternity after a child is born, it can become more complicated the longer it is put off.

3. How early can you do a paternity test?

If both parents are willing to submit to blood testing, a paternity test can be performed as early as the 7th or 8th week of pregnancy. In general, this type of early paternity testing will only be necessary if the potential father denies their paternity.

4. How do paternity tests work?

If a child has already been born, then paternity tests can be performed using non-invasive DNA collection techniques. Most often, this will manifest as a buccal swab, where the inside cheek of the mother, father, and child are taken and compared.

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