Determining Paternity is Instrumental in A Child’s Positive Growth
At WHITMARSH FAMILY LAW, PC, our paternity attorney in Los Angeles, California views the positive identification of a child or children’s father as more than a way to access financial support for their needs. Establishing parentage is instrumental to the child’s overall positive growth, and is imperative to have open access to both parents’ physical, emotional, and financial support.
Other important details that can emerge from establishing parentage is the ability to obtain the medical history of both parents, inheritance rights, and access to extended family relationships that build character and establish unconditional love that delivers ongoing care and companionship for the child or children in question.
How Is Paternity Established In California?
Our paternity lawyer in Los Angeles County focuses on family law because we believe in protecting the rights of children throughout the state, and that often begins with establishing paternity.
According to the California Family Courts, paternity is established when:
- The child’s parents are married, including same-sex marriages, at the time of the child’s birth
- Both parents sign a declaration of paternity
- If it is signed at the time of the birth, both parents will appear on the birth certificate
- If it is signed after the birth certificate is issued, a new one can be issued with both names
- Initiate a petition to establish paternity with the court to enforce a genetic DNA test that proves fatherhood
Children’s Rights Are Paramount To Their Successes In Life
For more than ten years, our experienced divorce attorney has developed parentage cases for the unique circumstances of our clients to deliver personalized solutions. Our firm fully understands that marriages are not the only dissolutions where children are left in peril of losing one parent’s constant connection and companionship.
When couples are not married, and they decide to move forward in different directions, establishing paternity may be the only way for the child to enjoy financial and emotional support going forward.
The important components that can be determined through paternity testing can provide solutions for child support and child custody cases that include:
- Where the child calls home
- Which school the child attends
- How the child’s after-school hours are spent
- Who is responsible for the child’s travel and payment in sports and extracurricular activities
- How the child’s homework requirements are fulfilled
- How the child’s weekends, school breaks, holidays, birthdays, and vacations are spent
- Who is responsible for the child’s healthcare costs
- How the child will participate in religion
While money plays a large role in a child’s upbringing, simply because education, shelter, clothing, and activities inherently cost money, both parents’ involvement in the child’s life is equally as important to their successes.
What If I Am A Father Who Has Already Established Paternity? What’s Next?
Fathers who have already established paternity through one of the legal avenues already mentioned have rights to maintaining a positive relationship with their child. Each aspect of their fatherhood, including custody and support, is instrumental in their ability to care for the child in the best manner possible.
This can often become difficult after a divorce when emotions are still running high. However, contentious relationships between divorcing spouses or divorced parents should never interrupt one of the parent’s rights to maintaining a relationship with their child.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Our Los Angeles divorce attorneys know that the California Family Courts will weigh which parent will promote that the other maintains a good relationship with the child when determining child custody.
If you believe your child’s other parent is diminishing your character in front of your child and creating contentious circumstances that are detrimental to your relationship, we can help provide solutions for your family. Not only is this behavior unfair, but it is also frowned upon by the courts. Our paternity lawyer in Los Angeles wants to ensure your rights are being upheld at all times, so your child gets the best of both parents.
If you are interested in establishing paternity, or have already established paternity and would like to pursue your rights as a parent, contact WHITMARSH FAMILY LAW, PC in Los Angeles, California today at (310) 552-3505 to discuss your circumstances and learn how we can further enforce your legal role in your child’s life.
