Establishing Paternity in New York
Paternity. It’s a word many people associate with absurd television talk shows featuring “guests” who don’t know the identity of their fathers of their multiple children. In reality, paternity is not the dirty word or offensive topic public scrutiny may make it appear to be. It’s simply about legally identifying a child’s parentage and establishing the parental rights that follow.
These days, it’s more common than not that the father is present at the birth of the child and an acknowledgment has been signed. But, if not, a question of paternity may be brought before the courts at any point up until the child is 18.
At Angela Scarlato & Associates, P.C., P.C., we view finding of paternity as the gateway to all of the rights of parenthood. In most cases, parents were not married and a mother, father or both want to legally document a child’s lineage. With over 30 years of experience, the Brooklyn paternity lawyers at our law firm can help you achieve your goals, allowing you to move forward armed with the facts of the situation.
Paternity concerns can arise for anyone, including police officers, firemen, department of corrections workers, court officials and public service employees. Contact our law firm at 718-683-1780 to arrange for a free initial consultation.
Paternity in New York
In New York, in order to establish paternity, you need to either sign an acknowledgement at the time the child is born or to bring a petition in family court. If one party denies paternity, a DNA blood test will be ordered for all parties involved.
As a legal representative for either a mother or a father, we work with our clients to prepare the paternity petition and accompany them to family court. Once paternity is established we assist in establishing appropriate child support and child custody/visitation agreements.
Contact a Brooklyn DNA Testing Lawyer
Whether you are a mother looking to establish paternity as a means to gain child support for your child or you are a father seeking to gain visitation rights or contest a paternity claim, contact us online or by calling 718-683-1780. Our firm represents clients throughout the Brooklyn area and offers a free initial consultation.