Columbia Paternity Lawyer
Establishing a child’s parentage is vital for their future for many reasons, not the least of which includes assessing and protecting their legal rights. It is also important for the parents to know their rights and responsibilities. Identifying a child’s birth mother or father comes with a variety of challenges and considerations.
A Columbia paternity lawyer can help you with a variety of parentage issues, whether you need to confirm your identity as the biological father, verify that someone else is the father, or dispute your alleged paternity. Contact an experienced family law attorney at Price Benowitz to learn more about your options.
Why Is Parentage Important?
Establishing paternity for a child involves much more thanimply names on a birth certificate. Identifying a child’s mother and father is significant because it establishes certain legal rights and responsibilities for both parents and children. Perhaps even more importantly, it creates a special emotional bond between the parent and child and allows them to build a relationship.
Parents who are listed on a child’s birth certificate are presumed to be the parents of that child and are vested with legal rights and responsibilities as a result. This serves as a foundational element of allowing parents to participate in decision-making on behalf of their child. Correspondingly, children can receive certain benefits from their father. For example, children are eligible to be added to the father’s health insurance plan. They can also be included as beneficiaries for life insurance and retirement accounts. The most significant benefit is their right to inherit after the father passes away, as the estate can be passed down to the children.
Conversely, it is understandable if someone does not want to take on parental responsibilities for or grant benefits to a child who is not their own. In this case, they can dispute their alleged paternity and prevent their name from being included on the child’s birth certificate.
Establishing the father’s identity is essential for many of the rights and benefits for Columbia families, and an experienced attorney can help. Whatever the situation may be, talking to a lawyer can provide insight and advice about how to proceed.
Legal Mechanisms for Establishing Fatherhood
If the mother of a child is married, the law defaults to the husband being the biological father. Of course, not all cases are so straightforward. If the mother is unmarried, the father may voluntarily sign an affidavit of parentage, which would put their name on the child’s birth certificate.
If the alleged father has doubts, they should not sign the affidavit and instead dispute the paternity. These cases go to family court for a paternity hearing, where the court and judge review any evidence in support of and against the paternity.
If the initial evidence is not sufficient for a decision, the court can order a DNA test to confirm whether the person in question is the father. If the DNA test matches, the court issues an order establishing the father of the child.
Paternity cases in Columbia can be complicated and emotional, which is why it is beneficial to have a dedicated lawyer to handle tasks such as paperwork and court filings. An attorney can provide advice and guidance throughout the process.
Talk About Your Parentage Situation With a Columbia Attorney
Raising children is a significant responsibility, and while some may eagerly pursue the role of fatherhood, others may not. Whether you are seeking to confirm or dispute the identity of a child’s father, a Columbia paternity lawyer can help protect your rights. Call Price Benowitz today to schedule a free case evaluation.