Paternity Lawyer 

Establishing paternity and protecting your rights as a father is an important step and that is why contacting a paternity lawyer is often in your best interest. Going through this legal step has been shown to be beneficial to both the father and the children. However, the legal path to get there is not always clear and it can easily be overwhelming if you’ve never had to deal with it before.

When it comes to establishing paternity, having a lawyer on your team is a great way to ensure that you don’t miss anything and you won’t make any simple mistakes.

How Does Establishing Paternity Benefit the Children? 

You may be wondering how determining paternity benefits the children. Once paternity is established, the father’s name goes on the child’s birth certificate. This allows the child to access important resources such as healthcare provided by the father’s employer or even other types of insurance. Having paternity established can also allow the child to be eligible to receive VA benefits, Social Security, inheritances, life insurance proceedings, and other financial benefits.

In addition to all that, it also allows the child to form a strong emotional bond with the father. It also allows both parents to play a role in raising the child.

What Can a Paternity Lawyer Do to Help Your Case? 

One way a paternity lawyer can help you is if you were not married to the mother of your child at the time the child was born, then they can help you with all the legal steps to establish yourself as the legal father of your child. They can also help you file the appropriate forms so you can claim your rights as a father.

If a paternity action needs to be filed, then the lawyer can ensure you have the proper legal grounds worded and documented in the right way. They can also help if you’re going through divorce to help ensure there is fairness in determining parental responsibility, time-sharing, and child support.

Is It a Good Idea to Represent Myself in a Paternity Case? 

The simple answer is no. But you do have the right to represent yourself in a paternity case, even if it is not in your best interest to do so. The laws are often complex and if you do not have an understanding of the law, they can also be confusing. This can make it so you seem unprepared in the eyes of the court. By working with a paternity lawyer, you are going to give yourself a more favorable outcome for you and your children in the long run.

Even if you are a lawyer, you should not represent yourself during this time. It is often a highly emotional time and you need someone who is unbiased and can give you the proper advice.

If you have found yourself in a paternity case, it is in your best interest to find a paternity lawyer from the team at Winfrey Law Firm, PLLC to guide you through all the steps you need in order to have the chance for the most favorable outcome.