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Paternity

Paternity

As science has advanced and paternity law and societal attitudes have changed, paternity issues have become more complicated. At South Bay Divorce, we stay informed of developments in this emerging area of the law, and advise clients in all types of paternity issues.

Protecting the Woman’s Rights

A large portion of our work in this area has been in establishing the identity of a father in the eyes of the law so that the mother can obtain child support payments. When both parents have a positive and cooperative attitude in establishing fatherhood, or when the father can be easily located, this is a straight-forward process, and our paternity attorneys can provide efficient and cost-effective results. When the father is missing, lives in another state, or is stationed abroad, this presents practical obstacles, but ones that can be overcome. We have extensive experience in establishing paternity for clients who are mothers.

Protecting the Man’s Rights

Fathering a child outside of marriage can carry the responsibility of child support, but does not necessarily grant the father any rights to a relationship with the child. In California, these are separate matters handled by different courts. If you are the father of child for whom you provide no support, or if you have been declared the father and pay child support and wish to foster a relationship with the child, South Bay Divorce can help in establishing parental rights for you. Sometimes a mother will mistakenly or even fraudulently name a man the father of her child when in fact he is not. In these situations, as paternity attorneys we can determine the true facts through a paternity test, so that the man is not liable for child support requirements. Nowadays, a blood test is no longer used to establish paternity. Rather, DNA is obtained by a simple and painless tissue swab. Whatever the issue you face, South Bay Divorce can establish the facts and your rights.

Contact us to schedule a free half hour initial consultation with a South Bay Divorce attorney.