Paternity

Determining the paternity of a child is complex. As more and more children are born out of wedlock, mothers, fathers, and children are increasingly seeking to establish paternity legally. At Aretsky Law Group, P.C., in Ridgewood, New Jersey, we have represented a number of clients seeking to establish or refute the paternity of children.

Paternity carries with it a number of rights and obligations. Child support, child custody, visitation, health insurance, and inheritance rights are only some of the issues associated with the paternity of a child. We have represented women, men, and children involved in paternity suits. In addition, we have handled cases in which the paternity of a child was an issue in a divorce.

There are a number of ways to establish paternity. A father can voluntary acknowledge paternity by signing a Certificate of Parentage at the hospital or the Registers Office. If a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity is signed, it is still necessary to ensure the father’s name is placed on the birth certificate.

When there is no voluntary admission of parentage, paternity can be established by a court ordered DNA test. A mother, father, or child can file a paternity complaint to the court. Everyone involved in the case will be required to undergo genetic testing. If DNA tests show a 95 percent or higher probability of parentage, the man is deemed to be the father.

If you are a parent seeking to establish the paternity of your child, please contact Aretsky Law Group, P.C. Our attorneys can be reached by phone at 800-537-4154, by e-mail, or by filling out the intake form on our contact page.