Vigo County Paternity Lawyer
When the paternity of your child is in question, working with an experienced Vigo County paternity lawyer can help you establish who the father is so his parental rights can be legally enforced.
The paternity of a child refers to the person who is the legal father of the child in question. In Indiana, if a couple is married, then the husband is legally recognized as being the father of the child. Conversely, children of unmarried couples do not have a legally recognized father unless paternity is established through DNA testing.
To ensure that the father of a child is held responsible for their paternal obligations, get help from a family attorney at Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm. We’ll secure a paternity test so the father of the child has the opportunity to have a relationship with their child and contribute financially to their upbringing.
Why You Should Establish Paternity
Unmarried couples who are currently in a relationship might not think that establishing paternity is necessary as the father is already raising his child. Single mothers might not find it to be appropriate as they intend on raising their child without the assistance of the father.
However, determining paternity can ensure that the mother is able to secure child support from the father, as both parties will be legally obligated to financially support their biological children.
What’s more, once paternity has been established, the father can provide their child with health insurance, social security disability benefits, and an inheritance, where applicable. Whether the father of your child is currently involved in the child’s life, knowing with absolute certainty who the biological father of your children is can only benefit your children in the future.
How Paternity Is Tested
Paternity of a child can be established in a couple of different ways. To begin, if you are not married, you have the option of filing a paternity affidavit, where the father will have the opportunity to accept the paternal responsibilities without question.
If you are in the middle of a paternity dispute and the father contests that they are, in fact, the father of the child, then you’ll need to have a DNA test done to determine paternity. This can be done via a saliva swab or through blood testing.
In any case, once paternity has been established, your children will have the opportunity to have a relationship with their father and he will then be legally obligated to provide for his children financially.
Reach Out to a Vigo County Paternity Lawyer
Although it might not always seem necessary, it can be in the best interests of your children to determine who their biological father is. This way, the father can exercise his parental rights and responsibilities to the fullest.
If you have concerns regarding the paternity of your children, you can consult an experienced Vigo County paternity lawyer at Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm for help. Give our office a call at 1-812-232-7400 or complete the confidential contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule your free case assessment today.
