Establishing paternity can be a critical and necessary action in a child custody or support case. Paternity is the legal determination of who is the father of a child. It typically involves blood and DNA tests to establish parentage. When paternity has been determined, it gives the child the same legal rights of child born during the marriage. Establishing paternity also enables a mother to seek child support, and gives the father custody and visitation rights. A knowledgeable attorney from our firm can explain the paternity process and the procedures involved in testing, as well as the legal implications.
Mansouri Law Offices is an established boutique family law firm that understands the importance of paternity. We are knowledgeable in paternity laws, and can provide skilled legal counsel and representation to protect your rights and interests.
DETERMINING PATERNITY
A paternity lawsuit is a civil lawsuit to determine the parentage of a child. Once paternity has been established, the father has legal rights to custody, as well as responsibility for the support of the child. While it is considered that husband of a child born during a marriage is the father, if paternity is raised as an issue during a divorce, resolving the matter can become important to the outcome of the case. Paternity testing can be conducted both before and after the birth of a child. Types of testing include:
- Blood test
- Cheek swab
- Umbilical cord test
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic Villus Sampling
DNA Testing can be conducted at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. Our office has helped many clients resolve paternity issues, and can confidently guide you through the paternity process.
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
After paternity has been legally established, the child has the right to a number of benefits, such as:
- Child support
- Health insurance coverage
- Social security benefits
- The right to workers’ compensation benefits
- The right to inheritance
- The right to sue in the event of their father’s wrongful death
