Do I need to establish paternity to receive child support for my child?
Establishing the legal paternity of your child is critically important for
Acknowledgement of Paternity
Often, the Acknowledgement of Paternity is completed at the hospital at the time of the birth, but it can also be completed at the local child support office or county birth registrar’s office. Paternity must be established through this form or court order before a child support order will be issued. It is free for the father and mother to complete an Acknowledgement of Paternity.
Court Ordered Paternity
If the parents do not agree on the father’s identity, then it will be necessary to seek court involvement. In a paternity lawsuit, the court will take evidence of the child’s father, which will often include a DNA test. The court will lawfully determine who the child’s legal father is and also issue an order of child custody or child support. You will generally wish to seek the assistance of a family law attorney to bring your paternity lawsuit, which can be initiated by the mother or alleged father.
If you are involved in a heated paternity battle, Navarrete and Schwartz can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.