Legal paternity is the foundation for a father’s custody and visitation rights and for a child’s right to support, inheritance and benefits. Unmarried fathers have no automatic rights until paternity is established — by acknowledgment or court order. Paternity can also be contested, including by men who signed an acknowledgment and later learned they are not the father.
What a paternity lawyer does
- Files to establish paternity and obtain custody/visitation orders together
- Arranges court-admissible DNA testing
- Rescinds or challenges a mistaken acknowledgment of paternity
- Addresses retroactive support and birth-certificate changes
When you need a paternity lawyer
- You are an unmarried father being denied time with your child
- You want support from a father who denies the child is his
- You doubt you are the father of a child you are supporting
- A hospital acknowledgment was signed under pressure or mistake
Questions to ask before you hire a paternity lawyer
- What rights do I have before paternity is established?
- How long do I have to challenge an acknowledgment of paternity?
- Can custody and visitation be decided in the same case?
- Will I owe back support, and for how far back?
Find a paternity lawyer near you
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