Establishing paternity can be extremely important for a child. However, paternity law has specific requirements. According to the legal team at the Law Offices of Paul Lenkowsky in Bullhead City, AZ, there are rules for every scenario, and it’s important to know what to expect if you’re requesting or challenging paternity. Being prepared can drastically affect the outcome, and having an attorney at your side will help you build a compelling case.

Securing paternity can have many motives, and the process for each petition varies. Here are explanations for how paternity is established in three common situations:

• Unwed Parents: If the father of a child born out of wedlock is seeking paternity, he can voluntarily file the paperwork any time before the child is 18. This requires cooperation with the child’s mother, as conflicts within paternity law can lead to more extensive legal issues. To file, parents may fill out a paternity form at the hospital when the child is born, or, if the child is older, complete an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity at any Arizona Child Support Services office.
• Father Denies Paternity: When an alleged father contests paternity and the mother feels this is incorrect, paternity law demands legal action be taken. In court, the mother can try to prove the alleged father is the father of her child, and this is most commonly done through genetic testing. Lab results must show a 95% possibility of the father’s paternity. If this is the case, Arizona courts will file him as the legal father and the mother will be allowed to pursue child support and other compensation based on family law.
• Mother Denies Father’s Claim to Paternity: In some cases, a mother may not want the father to be around or is simply not sure of who the father is. In this case, the alleged father can request genetic tests, as well as build a case with an attorney in court. Though a compelling case helps, the 95% paternity reflection is the primary requirement, and if met, the alleged father will be acknowledged as the paternal father. This doesn’t secure the right to marriage or amnesty from any payments or alimony the mother wants to pursue, so it’s important to hire an attorney to help with future family law cases.

If you’re dealing with a paternity issue, contact the legal team at the Law Offices of Paul Lenkowsky. Their full-service staff will work with you through every step of your case and are dedicated to achieving a positive outcome. Call (928) 758-4815 today to schedule a consultation and visit their website and Facebook to learn more about their practice.