Establishing Paternity And Legitimation Is Important
Paternity and legitimation are important factors in determining parental rights between unmarried couples. Child custody, visitation and child support can only be dealt with if there is a legal document stating that a man is the biological/legal father or parental guardian.
In order to pursue this legal action, you should choose an experienced, knowledgeable lawyer who will help you efficiently navigate the law and the process while advocating for your best interests.
How Is Paternity Used?
Paternity can be used in the following ways:
- A father may want to legitimatize his child in order to gain visitation rights or custody.
- A spouse or partner may want to contest the allegations of his fatherhood.
- A mother may want to establish the paternity of the father in an effort to collect child support and set visitation.
Attorney Christina Stahl founded the firm, working for more than 27 years helping Georgia mothers and fathers file for, legitimatize or dispute paternity. Like many other areas of family law, this can be an emotionally stressful time for both parties and the child in question. In an effort to work through this process with as little damage to the child as possible, I will provide you with the representation, information and guidance you deserve.
What Is The Difference Between Paternity And Legitimation?
While they are related, paternity and legitimation are two distinct concepts:
- Paternity: Paternity establishes the biological relationship between a father and a child. This can be done through genetic testing or voluntary acknowledgment. Once paternity is established, the father may be required to provide child support, but this alone does not grant him legal rights such as custody or visitation.
- Legitimation: Legitimation, on the other hand, is the legal process by which a father not married to the mother of the child can gain legal rights to the child. In Georgia, legitimation is necessary to grant the father legal custody and visitation rights. Legitimation essentially legitimizes the child in the eyes of the law, making the child the lawful heir of the father and allowing the father to petition for custody or visitation rights.
With Stahl Law Group, P.C., as your attorney, you will be guaranteed compassionate yet professional guidance to help you successfully establish both paternity and legitimation, making sure that your parental rights and responsibilities are fully recognized and protected under the law.
Who Needs To Pursue Legitimation?
Biological fathers who want to be legally recognized as parents and secure rights to custody, visitation and the ability to participate in major decisions affecting their child’s life need to pursue legitimation. Despite common misconceptions, the following actions do not legitimate a child:
- Naming the child in your last will and testament
- Signing the child’s birth certificate
- Taking the child to school
- Being named the child’s father in a paternity test
- Agreeing to or being ordered to pay child support
Even if you have been actively involved in the child’s life, lived with the child’s mother, provided financial support or taken a paternity test proving biological relations, you must still pursue legitimation to establish legal parental rights.
Contact Stahl Law Group, P.C., For More Information
To learn more about how an experienced Cartersville paternity attorney can help you, send an email or call 678-792-4190.