Paternity
Be Ready For Anything
Paternity Attorneys in Arizona
Arizona Paternity Lawyer
Establishing legal fatherhood and the rights and duties that accompany it is known as paternity. There can be a difference between a biological father and a legal father. When a child is born, the mother’s name automatically appears on the birth certificate. If she is married, her husband is assumed to be the baby’s father. If the parents are not married, it is important for the mother, for the father, and above all for the child, to establish paternity.
Our Arizona paternity lawyers assist both women and men in a broad range of paternity matters, including filing paternity lawsuits and defending against paternity actions. With law offices in Arizona, we represent clients in Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale Grove and throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Arizona Paternity FAQs
What is a Paternity Claim?
A paternity claim is a type of family law matter in which it isn’t certain who is the father of a child. A parent may bring a suit to establish paternity and prove fatherhood of the child.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
How Long Does One Have to Claim Paternity in Arizona?
In general, the parents have two years from the date of the child’s birth to bring a paternity claim. Exceptions do apply, so you should still talk to a family law attorney to see your chances of success if you have passed that time frame. Both parents may also agree to waive that deadline.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
Why is Establishing Paternity Important?
Establishing paternity can be necessary for resolving child support and parenting time issues. Establishing paternity can prove the father’s right to time with his child, and the child’s right to financial support.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
How is the Father of a Child Legally Determined in Arizona?
There are a few ways to legally determine who is the father of a child in Arizona. First, the father of the child may sign the birth certificate when the child is born. The father may also sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity to establish the child’s parenthood after the childbirth. Fatherhood will also be presumed if the child was born within 10 months of the man being married to the mother. Lastly, paternity can be established through genetic testing.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
Is the Biological Father the only one that can be recognized as Responsible?
A father does not have to be biologically related to a child to be held responsible for financial support and other matters. A father through adoption is just as responsible for his child as a biological father.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
If I Establish Paternity, Will I Have to Pay Child Support?
If you haven’t established paternity of a child, it is unlikely that you have full, if any, custody of the child. It is extremely likely you will need to start paying child support once paternity is established. A child has the right to adequate financial support from both parents.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
Difference Between an Acknowledged Father and a Presumed Father
An acknowledged father is one who has stated that he is the father of the child, whether by signing the birth certificate or an Acknowledgment of Paternity. A presumed father meets legal guidelines for the court to assume he is the father of the child without admitting it.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
What Happens If Paternity is Contested?
If the father denies being the child’s parent, or the mother refuses to acknowledge that the father is the child’s parent, either parent can bring a paternity suit through the family courts.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
Who Pays for DNA Testing?
This will depend on the exact circumstances of the case. Sometimes the parent requesting the DNA testing will be responsible for payment, and some courts require the father to pay if the paternity test is a match. The government may pay for the testing, especially in cases where one or both parents receive financial assistance. If the parents choose to get the testing done through a private lab, they will both be responsible for the testing fees.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
How Do I Fight a Paternity Suit?
You may contest the allegations when the alleged mother brings a suit against you. If you want to fight the paternity claim, you shouldn’t sign any documents or agreements without speaking to an attorney. An experienced family law attorney should also be able to guide you through the paternity contesting process. Having a genetic test may also prove that you’re not the father of the child.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
What is Genetic Testing?
Genetic testing involves giving a sample, usually blood or urine, to a laboratory to test and compare to a sample from the child in question. Paternity is presumed when there is a 95% or greater match between the two.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
What Does Genetic Testing Show?
Genetic testing can show that a father and a child are related with up to 99.9% accuracy.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
The Father is Deceased, How Can I Prove He is the Father?
If the potential father is deceased, the mother should contact Child Support Enforcement services. The child may be entitled to a portion of the father’s estate and death benefits.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED PATERNITY ATTORNEY
(480) 263-1699
AZ Family Law Lawyer Service Areas:
Establishing a Child’s Rights, Finding the Truth
Do you need to verify whether a child is yours? Do you currently have a child with someone you are not married? Did you sign a Recognition of Parentage (ROP) at your child’s birth but don’t understand what that means? Our experienced paternity lawyers can answer all of your questions regarding paternity and child rights in Arizona.
When a child is in a “non-traditional” situation, many questions can pop up, including: If you are the father of a child, do you want to become involved with the parenting of that child? What are your rights as a Father? If you are the mother, what kind of parenting time and custody arrangement do you want the father to have? What exactly are your rights as a Mother? If you are the grandparents, how do you stay connected with your grandchild? What are your rights as a grandparent?
