Newport Beach Paternity Attorney

Protecting the Rights of Parents throughout Orange County

Establishing paternity becomes a very important matter for the children of unmarried parents or in circumstances involving same-sex or domestic partnership relationships. Establishing parentage is a legal process conducted by the courts. Once parentage is declared by the court, the established parent will then have all the legal rights and responsibilities that come with being a parent of a child.

If you need legal help in establishing or opposing a paternity case, Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara can provide competent and experienced assistance. Our team of Newport Beach paternity attorneys is well-versed in California family law and procedure. We also bring powerful resources to any case with our seasoned negotiation and courtroom skills.

California Paternity Matters

The establishment of paternity is a great benefit to a child. It provides the child with the full knowledge of his or her parentage and gives him or her all of the rights and privileges of children born to married parents.

Paternity establishment entitles the child to such benefits as:

• Child support and visitation rights if the parents live apart
• Knowledge and access to the established parent’s family history, including medical and health records
• Access to potential health insurance
• Legal documentation that verifies parentage
• Access to any government benefits the established parent may receive
• Inheritance rights
• The right to emotional support from the established parent

Once paternity is declared by the courts, the established father is obligated to provide financial support for the child. He also has the legal right to seek custody or visitation rights. If a father disputes the fact that he is the biological parent of the child, he can request DNA testing to determine whether he is responsible for child support.

Why Establish Paternity?

There are many reasons why a parent might wish to prove legal paternity. If a father is seeking paternal rights, it is most likely because he wishes to secure certain rights as a parent. With paternity proven, the father may take a more active role in major decisions regarding his child’s upbringing. For example, a father with parental rights will have a say in the child’s:

• Education
• Religious upbringing
• Medical choices
• Living situation
• And more

The father can also pursue certain custody or visitation rights.

A mother, grandparent, or other guardian might try to prove a child’s paternity in order to secure certain rights for the child in question. Once paternity is established, the child would likely be entitled to child support payments to help pay for daily essentials, living expenses, food, clothing, education costs, toys, and so on.

How to Establish Paternity

To establish paternity after the birth of a child, the parents may opt to fill out a voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form. If either parent is unwilling to fill out this form, the issue must go to court. Through a court proceeding, either parent can take action to prove paternity and establish the father’s parental rights. A judge may do this by ordering biological tests, or asking for additional evidence of a parental relationship.

Thoughtful Family Law Assistance

Regardless of the circumstances behind your paternity case, Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara can work diligently to resolve your matter as smoothly and economically as possible. We understand the stress and difficulty that family law problems can cause and offer compassionate and proficient legal support throughout the duration of your case.