There are many reasons why someone would want to establish paternity of their child. By establishing paternity, the mother can be entitled to financial resources in the form of child support. For the father, determining paternity can establish their right to parenting time and create a relationship with their child.
For those looking for legal help in paternity issues, a Nampa family lawyer from Brown Family Law can help. Our team has been a reliable legal name for over 15 years and has a proven track record of satisfied clients. We emphasize a strategic approach to family law issues and can provide representation to protect your interests.
Contact our offices today to speak to a paternity lawyer in Nampa.
Why You Should Hire a Paternity Lawyer in Nampa
Family law matters can be some of the most contentious and high-tension legal issues. Even when both parties are amicable, navigating the legal complexities of paternity and related concerns requires a trained professional.
Reasons to hire a Nampa paternity attorney include:
- Know Your Rights. Most importantly, a lawyer can help you understand your rights and obligations as a parent.
- Legal Guidance. If you have any legal questions, a lawyer can answer them clearly and resolve misunderstandings. A lawyer can also represent you in hearings and other legal proceedings.
- Administrative Support. Your legal counsel can manage the administrative burden of filing forms and submitting documents to the court.
At Brown Family Law, we believe in a smarter way to do family law. Call us today, and we can set up an appointment to discuss your issues.
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Reasons for Establishing Paternity
In Idaho, a man is presumed to be the father if they are married to the mother when the child is born. In cases where the parents aren’t married or paternity is disputed, it may fall on the courts to establish fatherhood.
There are several reasons why someone would want to confirm the paternity of children:
Child Support
Parents in Idaho are legally required to financially provide for their children, even when not married. Confirming paternity can also secure a child’s right to financial assistance in the form of child support payments.
Parenting Time
Parents have a right to spend time with and cultivate a relationship with their children. Determining paternity can allow a father to petition for custody or visitation time, provided it’s in the child’s best interests.
Benefits
Knowing parentage can entitle the child to certain benefits that the father may have, such as health insurance, veterans’ benefits, or Social Security benefits. Similarly, knowing fatherhood can also help establish citizenship if the mother isn’t an American citizen.
Medical Conditions
Knowing paternity can also help identify and pre-empt certain genetic conditions. If the father has health problems, the child may have inherited them and will require treatment to manage them.
Responsibility and Closure
Establishing parenthood also helps establish responsibilities. Mothers can have closure and support knowing the father of their children, and fathers can develop a sense of moral responsibility and willingness to be involved in their child’s life.
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Establishing Paternity in Nampa
There are two primary ways that you can go about establishing paternity in Idaho when the parents aren’t married:
Signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity
The first is signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP). A VAP is a document both parents sign that indicates they agree on the fatherhood of the child.
Typically, this document is signed at the hospital shortly after birth or later through the state Department of Health and Welfare.
Filing a Court Order
If fatherhood is contested or one parent won’t sign an acknowledgment, a party can file a petition to determine paternity with the court. If granted, the court can compel DNA testing to determine the child’s parentage. Court-ordered tests are typically carried out through approved private testing agencies, and the person ordering the test usually covers the cost.
Paternity and Parenting Plans
When parents aren’t married or living together, and paternity is established, they will have to submit a parenting plan that sets terms for custody and parenting time. Any agreement must be reviewed by the court and determined to be in the child’s best interests.
Idaho doesn’t set minimum requirements for shared parenting time, unlike some other states, so it helps to have a lawyer going into negotiations. A lawyer can make sure that paternal rights are respected and that both parties abide by their legal obligations as parents.
Contact a Nampa Paternity Lawyer From Brown Family Law
Paternity issues can cause high tensions and are fraught with emotion, but a smarter way is available.
Brown Family Law is dedicated to providing smart solutions to paternity matters that work smarter for you, not harder. We have thousands of satisfied clients in our history, and we are dedicated to protecting their rights, families, and reputations.
Send us a message online or call us to discuss your case with a Nampa paternity lawyer.
