Alpharetta Paternity Lawyer
Every child in Alpharetta has the right to receive physical, emotional, and financial support from both of their parents. However, this is only possible if a mother can properly identify her child’s father.
Determining the paternity of a child grants certain rights to that child, namely financial child support. Paternity is the first step in the process of legitimation, whereby the father also gains the right to ask for visitation and shared custody.
An Alpharetta paternity lawyer can help parents answer important questions concerning the care and custody of their children. Whether you need assistance with obtaining DNA testing to confirm your parenthood or with disputing another party’s assertion of your paternity, one of our father’s rights attorneys can help.
Legal Rights and Obligations Associated with Fatherhood
According to Official Code of Georgia Annotated §19-9-1, both parents of a child have the authority to make decisions concerning that child’s upbringing and wellbeing, unless this authority is otherwise defined by court order. This authority can also extend to the right of custody over a child and the right to visit them in sole custody arrangements.
Additionally, O.C.G.A. §19-7-2 states that all parents are jointly responsible for the upbringing of their children. In paternity cases, this most often means providing financial support when the child lives with their other parent.
Finally, establishing paternity in Alpharetta with or without the help of an attorney can make a child the beneficiary of a will and help facilitate future custody proceedings. This is because a successful petition can help the father assert a legitimation action.
Methods Used to Determine Parentage
According to O.C.G.A. §19-7-43, multiple parties retain the right to ask a family court to determine the father of a child. These include:
- The child;
- The child’s mother;
- Any relative the child lives with;
- The Department of Human Services; and
- The suspected father.
The simplest way to establish paternity is through mutual agreement. In some cases, the law presumes that a man is the father, such as when a child is born to married parents. Otherwise, non-married couples may sign paperwork after their child’s birth which establishes paternity in writing. However, even married men may dispute their responsibilities toward a child.
In other cases, the court may need to hold a trial to determine whether a man is the father of a child. A family law judge may order genetic testing to answer this question. A test which indicates with 97 percent certainty that a man is the father would prove parentage in family court. Overall, paternity cases can be complex, and you would benefit from the knowledge and experience of an Alpharetta attorney.
Call an Alpharetta Paternity Attorney Today
Determining the identity of a child’s father has serious legal implications for many parties. For instance, establishing paternity may necessitate a child support order and could result in the right to visitation and custody being granted.
An Alpharetta paternity lawyer can help you provide a better life for yourself and for your children. Contact our intake team today to learn more about how we can help you establish paternity in family court.
