Parentage cases, also known as paternity cases, are when the court orders who the legal parents of the child are. When both parents are married to one another when the child is born, there is usually no question of who the father is; however, for unmarried parents, parentage must be established legally. In many cases, both parents in California will sign something known as a “Declaration of Paternity,” which states who the parents are.
There are some cases where establishing parentage becomes complicated. For instance, until it can be proven, the father does not legally have any rights for the child. It also means that he does not have to be responsible for the child, which could in turn put the mother in a hard place. There is also the chance that the father does not admit that he is the parent, which could warrant genetic testing. This includes results for the father, mother, and the child.
Why Should we Establish Parentage?
On an emotional level, parentage is important because then the child bears the benefit of knowing who his or her parents are. A child will also be guaranteed rights like financial support from both parents, legal documentation identifying parents, access to family medical records, health and life insurance coverage, and the right to inherit from either parent upon death. It helps for you to establish parentage because, if you are involved in a custody case, the court can now move forth with important matters like child support, health insurance, custody, visitation, and more.
How do I Establish Parentage?
In California, if the parents are not married, they can sign a voluntary Declaration of Paternity, or get a court order to find out. If the father believes that he is not the parent, he then has the right to go forth with a DNA test to ensure that he is actually the father before other custody matters are taken forth with the court.
Because we understand that paternity matters can sometimes be delicate and unique depending on the circumstances, we extend a helping hand to you in your time of need. Give us a call today to find out more information on how parentage matters work in the courtroom and what we can do for you.
