OUR SERVICES

- Paternity -

Paternity covers circumstances where individuals have a child together, but were never married. Either parent can institute a paternity proceeding and either parent may request a blood test to establish parentage, and the test is required upon request.

Once paternity is established, parental responsibilities and child support will be determined based on the same factors that are used to determine children's issues in divorce cases. Briefly, no matter with which parent the child lives, the other parent will most likely have parenting time with the child. Also, the parent with whom the child does not live will be required to contribute to the care of the child, generally in the form of child support payments. Child support in paternity cases may be retroactive if the action is not instituted prior to the child's birth. In other words, the father may be required to contribute to the costs that the mother has already expended to have and raise the child, even over the course of several years.

As is the case in divorce cases with children, even though the relationship between the parents has ended, the relationship between each parent and the child will, and should continue. Heckenbach Carlton Ammarell, LLP, represents both mothers and fathers in paternity actions, and believes in promoting the best interests of the minor child, while maintaining a healthy relationship between the child and each parent.