Experienced Paternity Lawyers Establishing Parental Rights in Wheaton, IL
Both mothers and fathers have the right to establish a child's legal relationship with his or her biological father. Establishing paternity, or parentage, is essential to ensuring that proper child custody and child support orders are put in place to provide for the well-being of a child. With a simple cheek swab, paternity testing can be completed, and the establishment of legal parentage can help provide peace of mind for both parties.
At Musielak & Rosinski LLC, we recognize the seriousness of paternity cases. Emotions can run high in these matters. Becoming caught up in "he said/she said" arguments can result in losing sight of the main concern at hand: the best interests of the child involved. Our goal is to help our clients take the proper steps to provide for their children's needs while protecting their parental rights.
Representing Both Men and Women in Paternity Cases
Our paternity attorneys are available to represent mothers in bringing legal actions to determine parentage and handle subsequent child custody and child support matters. We also work with men to either disprove paternity or to assert their rights as fathers.
Contact us to arrange a consultation to discuss legal options surrounding paternity. We work with clients throughout Illinois, including DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, and Kendall County.
Supporting Mothers Throughout a Legal Parentage Case
We can help mothers seek paternity testing, including assisting with court-ordered DNA tests. If a man has been legally determined to be the father of your child, our attorneys can help establish child support obligations to ensure that the child's ongoing needs will be met. We can help determine how decision-making or parenting time rights for a child's father will be addressed, and we will work to put solutions in place that will allow the child to maintain positive relationships with both parents.
Protecting the Rights of Fathers in DuPage County
If you believe you are the biological father of a child, establishing paternity is the first step to protecting your right to be a part of your child's life. In addition to taking steps to establish paternity, we can help you put a parenting agreement in place that will allow you to share custody and maintain ongoing contact with your child.
If you do not believe you are a child's biological father but find yourself subject to a paternity action, our lawyers can help you protect your rights. We can represent you in court and help you obtain court-ordered DNA testing to confirm or rule out that you are the child's father.
What Is a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage?
A Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage, or VAP, is a legal document that allows unmarried parents to establish paternity without going to court. Both parents sign the form, typically at the hospital after the child's birth or later at a local registrar's office, confirming that the man is the child's legal father. Once properly signed and filed, a VAP carries the same legal weight as a court judgment of paternity. A VAP can be withdrawn after signing, but only within a short window. Outside of that window, it becomes much harder to dispute a signed VAP except on specific grounds.
Other Benefits of Establishing Paternity
Beyond custody rights and child support, establishing paternity gives a child access to the father's medical history, which can be important for identifying inherited health conditions. It can also allow the child to receive benefits such as health insurance coverage, Social Security benefits, veterans' benefits, or inheritance rights that depend on a legally recognized parent-child relationship. Establishing paternity can also strengthen a father's ability to be involved in school decisions and extracurricular activities, since some institutions require proof of legal parentage before releasing information to a parent.
Contact Our Wheaton, IL Paternity Lawyers
Our attorneys can help you understand how to address family law concerns related to paternity, child custody, child support, or any other related issues. Contact our Wheaton, Illinois paternity attorneys or call 630-344-6525 to set up a free consultation.