Delaware County Paternity Attorney
Helping You Establish Paternity in Delaware County
Paternity can have a profound impact on family law matters, especially child custody and support. If the question of your child’s paternity has been raised, you are not without options. There are steps you can take toward establishing paternity, so you can pursue the child support you and your child deserve. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., our Delaware County family law lawyer could provide the skilled legal representation you need to establish paternity. Reach out to us today at (866) 290-9292 to schedule an initial consultation.
Establishing Paternity in Pennsylvania
Generally, establishing paternity when parents are married is clear-cut, as the husband is usually listed as the child’s father. Not all cases are quite so simple, unfortunately. If you are not married to your child’s father or if he later disputes the paternity of the child, it could create some legal challenges.
You can establish paternity in a number of ways:
- Through a court order after a hearing
- Have a DNA test performed
- An Acknowledgement of Paternity could be voluntarily signed at a conference or hearing
- An Acknowledgement of Paternity could be voluntarily signed at the hospital when the child is born
In cases where paternity is being involuntarily established, it must be done through a court proceeding. A judge could issue an order of paternity for a mother or a father who is seeking to establish paternity. If either party denies paternity, the court could order a DNA test. If paternity is established, the father’s name will be added to the birth certificate.
If paternity is successfully established, it would also lead to certain legal rights and responsibilities, including child support and child custody.
The Impact of Paternity on Child Custody and Support
The establishment of paternity could have many implications when it comes to both child custody and support. For example, as a result of established paternity, the father would have the ability to pursue child custody and visitation. These decisions are based on the best interests of the child and, since courts generally believe it is in the best interests of a child to have contact with both parents, it is likely the father would be granted some form of visitation or custody.
If a mother has been shouldering the financial burden of caring for their child, establishing paternity would give her the ability to seek support from the child’s father. If you are in a financial bind, this could have a significant impact on your life and the life of your child, which is why establishing paternity is so crucial.
Other benefits of establishing paternity include:
- Your child’s doctors will have more medical history, which could be beneficial in terms of knowing what diseases or genetic traits could affect your child.
- Your child could be added to the father’s medical insurance policy.
- A father-child relationship could be established.
- Your child could have certain inheritance rights if something happens to the father.
Work with Our Skilled Delaware County Paternity Attorney Today
Establishing paternity could benefit the mother, the father, and the child in question, so if you are in the middle of a dispute or have doubts about paternity, it is important to obtain legal counsel. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., our experienced Delaware County paternity lawyer could guide you through the process of establishing paternity. We are committed to helping families and providing compassionate legal support as they navigate some of the most sensitive legal matters.
Schedule a consultation by calling us at (866) 290-9292 today for legal counsel on paternity matters in Delaware County.
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