Establishing paternity is an important part of every child and parent’s life. If you’re looking to formally establish paternity of your child, look no further than the seasoned St. Louis paternity lawyers here at the Stobie Family Law Group.
Paternity Lawyers: Here for Families in Missouri
Legally recognizing a child’s relationship with their father plays an important role in a child’s life. Whether you’re a father wishing to get paternity and custody rights of your child, or a mother hoping to obtain child support to help raise your child, establishing paternity is essential. The dedicated St. Louis family lawyers at the Stobie Family Law Group stand ready to help walk you through the process.
Why Establish Paternity?
Establishing paternity is a foundational step in formalizing the legal relationship between a father and his child. This process confers several significant benefits, such as:
- Legal Recognition of Parental Rights and Responsibilities: Establishing paternity legally acknowledges the father’s role, enabling him to participate actively in the child’s life. It includes the right to seek custody or visitation and the responsibility to contribute to the child’s upbringing.
- Child Support and Financial Security: Legally recognized paternity obligates the father to provide financial support. This support is essential for the child’s upbringing, ensuring they have access to necessary resources like education, healthcare, and general welfare.
- Inheritance Rights: A child can inherit from their legally recognized father, which is particularly important in the absence of a will.
- Access to Family Medical History: Knowing the medical history of both parents is vital for a child’s healthcare. This information can be crucial for diagnosing and treating genetic conditions.
- Emotional and Psychological Benefits: Establishing a legal father-child relationship can provide significant emotional support and stability for the child, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.
How To Establish Paternity in Missouri
In Missouri, there are several ways to establish paternity, each carrying important legal consequences for the father, mother, and child. Here are the main methods to establish paternity in Missouri:
- Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP): Both parents can sign a voluntary affidavit acknowledging the father’s paternity at the hospital after the child’s birth or later at a Family Support Division office. Once filed, this document legally establishes the father’s relationship with the child.
- Administrative Paternity Order: If the parties do not agree to voluntarily establish paternity, the Missouri Family Support Division can initiate an administrative process. This may involve DNA testing to confirm paternity. The Division can issue an order establishing paternity based on the test results.
- Court Order: Either parent, the child’s guardian, or even the state can file a paternity action in court. The court may require genetic testing if paternity is contested. Once paternity is established, the court will issue an order formalizing the father’s legal obligations, including child support and custody rights.
- Genetic Testing: If paternity is in question, the court or the Family Support Division may require DNA testing to determine whether a man is the biological father. The test results can be used to establish legal paternity through either the administrative process or the court system.
- Marriage Presumption: Under Missouri law, if a child is born to parents who are married, the husband is presumed to be the legal father. This presumption can be challenged in court, but it typically stands unless proven otherwise.
The Legal Implications of Paternity
Once paternity is established, several legal implications come into play, including the following:
- Child Support and Custody: The father becomes financially responsible for the child and can also seek custody or visitation rights.
- Parental Rights in Decision Making: A legally recognized father has a say in key decisions about the child’s life, including education, religious upbringing, and health care choices.
- Modification of Birth Certificate: The father’s name can be added to the child’s birth certificate, which is a significant legal acknowledgment of paternity.
- Impact on Adoption and Relocation: Established paternity must be considered in cases of adoption or if the custodial parent plans to relocate.
Contact Our Missouri Paternity Lawyers Today
If you’re looking to establish paternity, please don’t hesitate to contact a seasoned St. Louis paternity lawyer from the Stobie Family Law Group today so we can begin the process.
