Bradley County Child Support & Visitation Attorney
In today's world of constantly evolving family structures, the establishment of paternity can help create the legal rights and obligations that are a quintessential part of having children. For children born out of wedlock, the only way to have their paternity established is through the court. Many people may be under the misconception that if the father is at the hospital for the birth and signs the birth certificate that they are legally establishing themselves as the child's father. That is not the case.
At the law office of Angela C. Larkins, Attorney at Law, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we can help you establish the paternity of your child or children before the court.
Act Now to Secure Your Rights or the Father's Obligations as a Parent
For fathers, the establishment of paternity grants them parental rights. Following the establishment of paternity, we can seek:
- Child custody
- Parenting time (visitation)
For mothers, it is important to establish who the father of your child is for several reasons:
- To establish a child support obligation that will help provide for the child
- To create an agreed upon role for the father in the child's life
Why Should I Establish Paternity?
The legal procedure of establishing who the father of your child is provides the only method of obtaining a court order to secure child support or a parenting schedule. Although your relationship with the other parent may be working today, there is no assurance that this will continue.
In Tennessee, if you have a child born out of wedlock, the Mother is presumed to have primary custody and there is no way to enforce your parenting rights, including parenting time with your child, without obtaining a Court order.
Contact Us
For assistance with paternity issues, call a Chattanooga paternity lawyer at 423-648-6622, toll free at 888-534-5336 or contact us online to set up your initial consultation. We accept all major credit cards for our client's convenience.
