St. Charles Paternity Attorneys

Answer: Paternity, also known as the state of being a child’s father, can be established in a couple of different ways. One common method is through a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity signed by both parents. Genetic testing can also be used to determine paternity. It is important to remember that if the parents are married when the child is born, the husband is presumed to be the father.

Answer: In Illinois, if paternity cannot be established voluntarily, a court process can be initiated. This typically involves filing a petition with the court to establish paternity. The court may order genetic testing to determine who is the biological parent. Both parties will have the opportunity to present evidence and arguments. Once paternity is established, the court can issue an order regarding child support, custody, and visitation.

Answer: The Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) is a legal form that parents can sign to establish paternity. Both the mother and father must sign the form voluntarily, and it must be witnessed and notarized. Once parents sign the VAP, the father legally acknowledges legal responsibility for the child, including financial support. Once the form is filed with the state of Illinois, paternity is established, granting the father rights and responsibilities relating to the child.

Answer: Yes. When paternity is established, the father is then legally obligated to help provide financial support to the child. Paternity also grants access to important benefits such as health insurance and inheritance rights. Additionally, it can lead to a stronger parent-child relationship, as the father can be involved in the child’s life through parenting time and decision-making.

Answer: In cases where a father denies paternity of a child in Illinois, a legal process can be initiated to establish paternity. This may involve genetic testing to determine biological parentage. If DNA test results confirm paternity, the father will be legally recognized as the child’s father.

Answer: Yes, establishing paternity benefits the father in several ways. First, it provides legal rights to parenting time and participation in decision-making regarding the child. It also allows the father to develop a meaningful relationship with the child, helping to strengthen the emotional bonds and providing a sense of responsibility.

Answer: The father has until the child turns 20 to establish paternity. In cases where the father wishes to challenge paternity, the father has two years from the date when they knew or should have been aware that contesting paternity in court was in his best interest.

Answer: While the cost of a paternity test may vary by county, most court-admissible paternity tests can be obtained for $50 or less per person. Discuss with a legal professional the best, most affordable way to obtain a paternity test for your circumstance.

Answer: Once paternity is established in Illinois, the father gains legal rights and responsibilities regarding the child. This means that the father will have financial responsibility along with the other parent. Since many paternity cases stem from the mother seeking financial support for the child, establishing paternity can allow a court to put child support orders in place and mandate the father’s financial responsibility to the child. Issues related to child custody may also be addressed, and the father may have the right to share in decision-making responsibilities and be granted parenting time with the child.

Answer: If the mother was not married to the child’s father at the time of birth, the father’s name will usually only be included on the birth certificate if the person designated as father and mother sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form. The father’s name should never be submitted or added to a birth certificate without his consent.

Answer: “Paternity post-adjudication” simply means the time period after the legal establishment of paternity. It is a time when the father has successfully obtained legal paternity of the child, recognizing him as the child’s parent and giving him the rights and responsibilities of parenthood.