Orange County Family Lawyer for Paternity Testing
The Importance of Determining Paternity
In order to substantiate the rights of a parent and child, it is important
to establish paternity and parentage. Establishing parentage will legally
declare who the child's mother and father are. Parentage and paternity
issues can affect decisions regarding
child support,
custody, and visitation. For obvious reasons, no court can order an individual
to pay child support for a child that may not actually belong to that
person. Custody and visitation rights are similarly affected.
If you have questions or concerns about paternity or parentage, you can
always speak with an
Orange County divorce attorney at The Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman. Mr. Bridgman and his team have
decades of combined experience in handling paternity and parentage issues
in California.
Why a Father Would Establish His Paternity
A man might establish his paternity in court for a number of reasons. Let
us consider a few possible scenarios. First, if this man dated a woman
for some time and she became pregnant, but he suspected her of infidelity,
both he and the child would need to take DNA tests in order to determine
paternity. If he is not the biological father, then he cannot be held
legally responsible for child support payments.
If a man has a child by a woman and she tries to deny his fatherhood, he
may be denied
visitation and custody rights unless he can establish paternity. A child deserves
to have a relationship with their father, and
a father deserves to have a relationship with his child. If both parents agree on the child's paternity, then the father should
establish it voluntarily at the child's birth.
Why a Mother Would Call for Paternity Testing
A single mother deserves all of the support she can get. If the biological
father is refusing to pay child support because he claims he is not, in
fact, the biological father, then he will be required to complete a paternity
test. Perhaps the relationship was not meant to be, but this does not
excuse the biological father from supporting his child. A biological father
cannot avoid child support by moving, and if he refuses to make his payments,
the court may place him in contempt.
Determining Paternity for Married and Unmarried Parents
In California, if a child was born during a marriage, the husband may not
be able to dispute the child's paternity. No evidence, including results
from a blood test, can be used to prove that he is not the child's
biological father. If the parents are not married and the father is denying
his paternity, he may be served with a Summons and Complaint Regarding
Parental Obligations. This will require him to ask for a paternity test
within 30 days of being served. If the results state that there is a high probability of him being the
father, he may either agree to his paternity or ask to take the case to trial.
Trust a Team With Decades of Combined Experience
If you decide that you want to go to court in order to prove that you or
another individual is the legal parent of a child or children, you will
greatly benefit from the legal knowledge and practical experience offered
by the Orange County
family law attorneys at The Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman. Your attorney will fight
for you in order to enhance your chances of receiving the best possible
outcome in your case. Paternity and parentage are vital concerns that
must be established.
Contact our firm today to discuss your parentage concerns. We offer free consultations!