Prescott Paternity Lawyer

Helping You Establish or Dispute Paternity in Arizona

When a child is born to unmarried parents, the father does not have any legal rights or responsibilities to the child until paternity is established. If you are a father who wants to establish paternity so you can have a relationship with your child, or if you are a mother who wants to establish paternity so you can receive child support, you will need to go through the legal process of establishing paternity.

At Signature Law Group, PLLC, we can help you with all types of paternity matters, including:

• Child custody
• Child support
• Visitation
• Father's rights
• Termination of parental rights

Our Prescott paternity attorneys can help you establish paternity and protect your rights as a parent. We can also help you dispute paternity if you are not the biological father of a child and are being asked to pay child support.

Call (928) 842-8522 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our team.

How Is Paternity Established in Arizona?

In Arizona, paternity can be established in one of three ways:

• Voluntary acknowledgment: If both parents agree on who the father is, they can sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity form. This form can be signed at the hospital when the child is born or at a later date. Once the form is signed, the father's name will be added to the birth certificate, and he will have the same legal rights and responsibilities as a father who is married to the mother.
• Administrative order: If the mother is receiving public assistance, the state can establish paternity by filing an administrative order. The father will be served with a notice and will have the opportunity to request genetic testing. If the test confirms that he is the father, paternity will be established, and he will be required to pay child support.
• Judicial order: If the mother is not receiving public assistance, she can file a paternity action in court. The court will order genetic testing, and if the test confirms that the man is the father, paternity will be established. The court will also issue orders regarding child custody, visitation, and child support.

If you are a father who wants to establish paternity, it is important to do so as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to establish paternity and have a relationship with your child.

How Can I Dispute Paternity?

If you are a man who has been named the father of a child and you do not believe you are the biological father, you can dispute paternity. You will need to file a paternity action in court and request genetic testing. If the test confirms that you are not the father, the court will issue an order stating that you are not the father, and you will not be required to pay child support.

However, if you have been named the father of a child and you are not the biological father, you must act quickly. If you wait too long to dispute paternity, you may lose your right to do so and will be required to pay child support.

How Can a Paternity Lawyer Help Me?

Whether you are a mother or a father, a paternity lawyer can help you with all aspects of establishing or disputing paternity. At Signature Law Group, PLLC, we can help you file the necessary paperwork, gather the evidence you need to prove your case, and represent you in court. We understand how important your relationship with your child is, and we will do everything we can to help you establish or dispute paternity.

To learn more about how our paternity lawyers in Prescott can help you, call (928) 842-8522 or contact us online today.