Paternity Law

Establishing paternity is vital to ensuring your children have financial and emotional support. If there is uncertainty regarding your child’s paternity, you will need to establish legal paternity prior to taking other legal measures.

Attorney Rhonda in OKC is experienced in handling paternity cases, and we will ensure the rights of you and your children are protected to the full extent of the law.

UNDERSTANDING PATERNITY

Paternity refers to legally determining the identity of a child’s father, usually one born outside of marriage. With married couples, paternity is automatically given to the husband. If a couple is not married, there is no automatic granting of paternity. At Inner Vision Legal, we can help you establish paternity, which opens the door to child support and child custody arrangements.

ESTABLISHING PATERNITY

Oklahoma law has two options for establishing paternity: voluntary paternity and suing for paternity. With voluntary paternity, the father signs an Acknowledgement of Paternity or AOP. This is a legally binding document that is often signed in hospitals after a child is born. The signing of the AOP must be witnessed.

If the father signs the AOP, his right to genetic testing is waived, and the father agrees to pay child support and provide health insurance for the child if needed. It also allows custody arrangements to be made, as unmarried women are automatically granted sole custody of their children when they are born.

In general, an AOP should only be signed if the father is certain he is the biological father of the child. If you are presented with an AOP and are uncertain whether to sign, you can consult Attorney Rhonda in Oklahoma City for assistance.

The other option for establishing paternity is filing a lawsuit. Inner Vision Legal can assist you with this process. Child Support Services will sometimes file a paternity suit as well. The judge in the case may order genetic testing, which is done using a swab. If there is a genetic link, the judge will issue a paternity order. The father is responsible for paying for the genetic testing if the test shows that he is the father.

WHY ESTABLISH PATERNITY?

Establishing paternity is important for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to:

• Having the father named on the child’s birth certificate;
• The child is able to qualify for benefits through the father;
• Custody arrangements can be made;
• Child support can be established;
• The child can build a relationship with the father and his family; and
• The child can access the father’s medical history.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

At Inner Vision Legal, we know how important it is to accurately establish paternity. We are happy to handle your case in its entirety.

If you are dealing with paternity, it is vital to get sound legal advice. We can help you find an approach that works, often without ever entering a courtroom. If paternity is established, we can help you pursue child custody, child support, and visitation. Contact us today at (405) 724-2525.