Paternity Suits Establish Rights And Responsibilities
Paternity suits are often fraught with tension and emotion. There are a wide variety of reasons why a paternity suit might be filed in Colorado. In some cases, someone is trying to prove paternity while in others, someone is trying to disprove paternity. In nearly all cases, the people involved have a tremendous emotional investment.
If you are thinking of filing a paternity suit or if you have become involved in one that someone else filed, it is vital that you speak with an experienced family law lawyer as soon as possible so that you can fully understand the process and your rights and obligations. Ammarell Deasy, LLP, has over 40 years of combined legal experience assisting both men and women with paternity suits from our office in Greenwood Village, working to ensure that your rights are protected in this complex legal situation.
Who Can File A Colorado Paternity Suit?
A mother may file a paternity suit if the man that she believes is the father of her child denies being the father. By establishing paternity, she may be entitled to collect child support for the child, potentially dating back to the child’s birth. When a mother files a paternity suit, it is important for her to understand that, if parentage is established, the father will gain the rights of fatherhood as well as the responsibilities.
A man who believes that a child is his may file a paternity suit to establish his rights as a father. By establishing parentage, he may be entitled to seek custody or visitation rights of the child, as well as decision-making responsibility for the child. Like the mother, it is important to understand that by establishing parentage, the father will gain the rights and responsibilities of fatherhood and therefore may also be required to pay child support.
Colorado has several scenarios in which a man may be legally presumed to be the father of a child. If the presumed father believes that he is not the actual father or if the mother believes that the presumed father is not the actual father, they may file a paternity suit to disprove parentage. These can be some of the most emotionally difficult cases, and it is extremely important to have the assistance and guidance of an experienced Greenwood Village paternity lawyer. If paternity is disproven through a paternity suit, the presumed father may be entitled to end his legal obligation to the child and may lose his legal rights involving the child.
A paternity suit may also be brought by a child or representatives of a child to establish his or her father. These cases may be brought by the child support enforcement agency to ensure that the child receives the financial support necessary for their care.
How Paternity Is Established
Various factors may be used in determining paternity, but ultimately the court may order genetic testing to determine paternity. Given the extremely personal nature of this testing, it is vital that you speak with a Greenwood Village paternity attorney who has experience representing both men and women in paternity suits. Issues of privacy, the rights of the children and financial obligations combine to make these cases extremely complex. The outcome of a paternity suit affects everyone involved for the rest of their lives. A Colorado family law firm can help ensure that your rights are protected in a process that can be very difficult.
Speak with the dedicated Greenwood Village paternity lawyers at Ammarell Deasy, LLP, today to discuss your rights, obligations and options if you are considering filing a paternity suit or have been named in a paternity suit. Ammarell Deasy, LLP, works with people involved in every aspect of the paternity suit to ensure that their clients’ rights are protected. After the suit ends, they can also continue to work with you in issues of parental responsibility and child support as needed based on the outcome of the paternity suit.
Talk To An Attorney Today
Don’t face your paternity case alone. Ammarell Deasy, LLP, is here to help. For more information, contact us online or call today at 303-470-3020.