What Happens if I Don’t Answer a Paternity Petition?

You’re sitting at home when your hear a knock on the door. You answer it and find a guy handing you papers.

You’ve been served with a Paternity Petition.

The first page of the papers is something called a Summons. The Summons tells you you’re being sued for paternity. It also tells you that if you have been served for paternity in Utah, you must respond within twenty-one days. It goes on and tells you that if you have been served outside of Utah, you must respond within thirty days.

What happens if you don’t respond?

The answer’s pretty simple: you default. Losing by default in paternity is the same as losing by default in sports. If you don’t show up, you don’t play the game, and you lose automatically.

In paternity, however, the stakes are a little higher. Defaulting means your ex gets whatever he or she asked for in the Petition. If she asked for sole custody of the children, she gets it. If he wants you to pay all college costs for the kids, you pay. Whatever is asked for is received.

Don’t default. If you do, you will regret it for the rest of your life.

Last Piece of Advice

If you can’t hire an attorney or don’t have time to right now, file an Answer to the Petition. If you file an Answer, then your ex can’t default you and have bought yourself some time to hire an attorney.

Simplest way to file an Answer is to deny every allegation in the Petition. All you have to do is write something like, “I deny every allegation and prayer for relief contained in Petitioner’s Petition for Paternity.”

This isn’t the best way to Answer, but it will do in a pinch.

Protect Your Money And Your Family

We remove fear associated with divorce, protect your money & maximize time with your kids!

We're here to help. Let's determine your best options.

Call Us 24//7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative

Utah Divorce FAQs
Top 100 Divorce Blog
What Clients Are Saying…
BrownLaw icon
Excellent
Brown Family Law
Based on 965 reviews
They got my dovorce going and stayed in contact with me every week. Every step of the way anytime I had questions they were answered fast. They made it so much easier.
Clay was great to work with! He was very willing to explain everything I needed to know and helped me understand the options on my case. Very easy to work with.
Jennifer and Dani, as well the rest of the team went above and beyond when it came to my case.
I would highly recommend ‘Brown Family Law’.
My experience with them was exceptional.
Alija
Loved working with Daniel and the whole team. Great service.
Marco and his team at Brown Family Law have created nearly the perfect system for getting divorced in Utah. From the initial intake, to gathering all of the necessary documentation, to the client communication in between. There is so much work that goes into getting divorced, but with Marco and his team you'll always know where you are in the process and what happens next, which is such a comfort. Would highly recommend.
I would give them 10 stars if I could. Clay was professional and super organized. He took the time to explain everything. I would highly recommend him for any family law needed. Melanie was a godsend. She not only kept me continually informed of the progress, she sent texts of encouragement and support throughout the entire process. I would give her 100 stars for going above and beyond to make this experience less stressful. Her encouragement and genuine caring were comforting and calming. The entire staff at Brown Law are on your side and if you are lucky enough to get Clay and Melanie on your team you will not be disappointed. Thanks! Mack M.
Response from the owner:Wow, thank you so much. Melanie is great. Glad she helped you so well.
Nathaniel was an incredible partner throughout the divorce process. He was organized, responsive and respectful of my wishes while simultaneously giving me guidance and advice. I would recommend him to anyone.
I couldn’t have made it through my divorce without Clay and his team! I am forever thankful for the hours and time spent with me to help navigate an extremely difficult time in life. They’re reliable, knowledgeable, and know how to get things moving in an efficient manner. Nothing but good to say here!!
Working with Daniel Young at Brown Family Law was a truly positive experience during one of the most difficult times of my life. From the start, Daniel was knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly responsive.
If you need a family law attorney who combines expertise with empathy, I cannot recommend Daniel Young enough. He is a true advocate and a credit to Brown Family Law.
Nathaniel and Carren have been absolutely incredible to work with. They kept me informed and in the loop throughout each step of the process. They always answered every question I had in a very quick and timely manner. I could not recommend them more.
yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Categories