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How-To Establish Paternity
Imagine you receive a phone call that could change everything for you. The message: You are going to be a father. After receiving this life-changing news, you realize you want to be deeply involved in your child’s life. What are Arizona Paternity Laws? What are the first things you need to consider? How do you set things in motion? How do you establish paternity? Below are 4 steps to help you establish paternity.
What is the first step to establishing a case? Step 1
It may sound cliche, though the first thing, and generally one of the most important things, you need to do is find a competent lawyer. Once you have your lawyer by your side, you need to file for paternity. Before you can ever attempt to establish your legal decision-making and parenting time rights for your child, your paternity needs to be established first.
How do you establish paternity? Step 2
After hiring a lawyer and filing for paternity, you may ask yourself how you can establish paternity? Paternity can actually be established in a variety of ways. For one, you can sign an acknowledgement of paternity at the hospital. There is a hospital program that does that. However, if you are not present at the birth of the child at the hospital, that may not be the right option for you. You can also establish paternity by signing an acknowledgement of paternity in front of a notary. This acknowledgement of paternity needs to then be filed with the court. A third option for establishing paternity is the completion of a paternity test.
The court has established paternity. Now what? Step 3
Once you and your lawyer have completed the previous steps and the court enters an order establishing paternity, you can move forward with your case. The next step for you will include trying to establish your legal decision-making and parenting time rights for your child.
Stay focused on your ultimate goal: Your child. Step 4
Once you move forward with establishing your legal decision-making and parenting time rights, it is important to know that you are under a microscope. The court will be watching and considering all actions you take. You do not want to give anyone, may it be the court or the child’s mother, the impression that you are an unfit parent. You need to stay focused on establishing and continuing a relationship with your child. This means spending time with the child whenever you can. Even if the mother is not allowing it to happen or is not excited about the possibility, you need to take the legal steps you can to do so. Since your goal is to spend time with your child, it is important to foster that father-child bond.
By follow these steps, you and your legal representative will be that much closer to establishing paternity and seeking legal decision-making and parenting time right.
