Establishing the paternity of your son or daughter can be a stressful legal ordeal. If you are unmarried or in the process of divorce, our paternity lawyer can help you obtain child custody and support. It can also help you meet your family’s ongoing emotional and financial needs.
Your child is entitled to financial support from both parents. Our paternity lawyer can help you fight for it. Family law lawyer at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we clarify the laws of your state, comply with them to support your case, and fight for the best possible outcome for you and your child.
- Establishing Paternity According to the Laws of Your State
- How Our Family Law Attorney Establishes Your Child’s Paternity
- Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Advocates for Father’s Legal Rights
- Get Legal Support for You Paternity Case
Establishing Paternity According to the Laws of Your State
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, our paternity attorneys provide compassionate, responsive legal support for parents in North Carolina based on North Caroline guidelines. According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services: Paternity is presumed when a child is born to a married couple. Unmarried couples can establish paternity with an Affidavit of Parentage or a court order.
When we represent you, we help you document your marital or relationship status. We provide clarity on the legal parameters of North Carolina and any required testing, including their timing and costs. Our legal team will also help you identify and locate an absent parent if needed.
Why Proving Paternity Is Important for You and Your Child
The shared joy of parenting is a primary benefit of confirming paternity. Proving the identity of your child’s parent is also an essential part of securing their future. It can also remove any lingering doubt via DNA testing and prove:
- The absent parent has a child support obligation
- Your child is entitled to government and military programs and benefits
- Your child has a right to medical history and other beneficial information
Proof of paternity is also important to your son or daughter for reasons other than their financial well-being. They deserve to reap all the benefits of knowing their paternal parent’s and family’s identity. It also gives them access to extended family, enhances their self-identity, and can secure rights or inheritance.
How Our Family Law Attorney Establishes Your Child’s Paternity
Establishing paternity can be a trying and emotional process. When you turn to our law firm for support, we bring familiarity with your state’s laws and a pool of resources and team members to the table.
On your behalf, our paternity attorney will:
- Navigate the DNA testing process
- Fight for fair and appropriate child support
- Establish physical and legal child custody
- Handle all communication related to your case
- Manage all case-related paperwork
Our family law lawyer represents parents who were not married at the time of their child’s birth. Our divorce lawyer will represent families who are dissolving an existing marriage.
Additional Benefits of Working With Our Family Law Attorney
The legal procedure to establish paternity can involve a wide range of documentation. If our law firm handles your claim, we will request supporting documents that strengthen your case, including DNA test results and birth certificates.
We also obtain financial statements proving the father’s income and other financial resources when seeking child support. Our law firm is committed to helping you meet your child’s needs. In addition to paternity, this can also mean establishing beneficial shared parenting boundaries.
We can also help you request an amended birth certificate that includes the father’s name. In South Carolina, paternity may not be established if the mother was married at any time during pregnancy or delivery. Our legal team will clarify any other options that are available to you.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Advocates for Father’s Legal Rights
Paternity issues are not always challenges faced by a child’s mother. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we support fathers fighting for the right to be a part of their children’s lives.
As your fathers’ rights advocate, we will:
- Legally establish your paternity if it is questioned
- File an Affidavit of Parentage, where applicable
- Fight for child custody, according to your state’s laws
Proving paternity and playing an active role in your child’s life is your right and responsibility. You do not have to do it on your own. Contact one of our family law team members to learn more about fighting for your rights as a father with help from our paternity lawyer.
You Could Be Entitled to Child Support as a Custodial Father
Along with primary custody, you could also be entitled to child support. Each state has its agency that determines when and how much support is awarded to a custodial parent. Accordingly, North Carolina Judicial Branch provides insight into the processes and guidelines for child support determinations
While child custody is often awarded to the mother, that does not mean you do not have rights as a loving and concerned father. If you believe the best interests of your son or daughter are met by being in your custody, our family law attorney will help you fight for it.
Get Legal Support for You Paternity Case
Children deserve support from both parents. When our law firm represents you, we describe the steps to establishing paternity and help you navigate each one. Learn more about your and your child’s rights with legal support from our paternity lawyer.
Start fighting for your family now by contacting one of our team members to see how hard our paternity lawyer at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC will fight for you.