Minnesota Paternity Attorneys

The Need to Establish Paternity 

Establishing paternity is important because the father of a child has no legal right to custody or parenting time until paternity is established. If you are facing a paternity case, our Minnesota paternity lawyers can help. The mother of a child has sole physical and legal custody until a court decides otherwise. If there is a paternity hearing, the court will decide custody, child support, and parenting time, in the same manner as if it were a divorce.  A paternity lawyer with our firm can provide you with legal guidance when you are in pursuit of establishing paternity.

Recognition of Parentage

There are two ways to establish paternity under Minnesota law. The first involves a Recognition of Parentage, while the second involves a court order. With a Recognition of Parentage, both parents sign a sworn statement that the man is the child's father. A ROP is only valid when it is filed with the Minnesota Department of Health. If the mother is not married to someone else, and the parents are at least 18 years old, this statement of paternity is final. A ROP can be done at any time. It is best to speak with a lawyer before you sign it, to learn how it will affect your rights.  

Adjudication of Paternity by the Court

The second way to establish paternity involves a court order. One parent may not want to sign a ROP, or more than one man may claim to be the father, or the mother may have been married to someone else when the child was born. The court will look at the evidence, including genetic tests and the past relationship between the mother and the possible father. You can ask for a genetic test but you do not have to have one to establish paternity.  Because of this sometimes complex legal process, having a Minnesota paternity lawyer to guide you through the details can be extremely helpful to the success of your case.

Always A Free Consultation

Have additional questions? Contact the Brown Law Offices, P.A. today. We offer free consultations to all potential clients. Call  763.323.6555 or complete our free case evaluation form .