In determining paternity of a child, either parent can dispute paternity—either the mother or father. Generally, in cases where paternity of a child has not been established, a parent can ask for a paternity test. However, in cases where paternity of child has been established though a court order, it may be too late to ask for a DNA test. A knowledgeable paternity lawyer at Wallin & Klarich can provide you with the proper advice and guide you in the right direction when disputing paternity of a child.
If the other parent of the child serves you with a Petition to Establish Parental Relationship, you have 30 days to file a response. If you do not respond within 30 days, the court may deem a parental relationship between you and the child without a paternity test ever being done. Therefore, if you plan to dispute the paternity of a child, it is important you complete and file your response within 30 days. In your response you will check either on of two boxes stating to the court that either 1) your are not sure if you are the child’s parent or 2) you are not the child’s parent. Additionally, in your response you can request that a paternity test be done in order to determine whether or not you are the parent of the child. You can also request a trial on the issue of paternity. In most cases, when a person disputes the paternity of child, the case can be complicated.
If you were served by the local child support agency in your county or The Department of Child Support Services, you will have 30 days to respond and ask for a paternity test. You will complete, serve on the local child support agency and file with the court the Answer to Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligations. To dispute the paternity of the child you must check that box stating you are not the parent of the child. After you respond, a paternity test will be scheduled.
If you are have been served with paternity documents and are not sure if you are the parent of the child, it is important that you hire a paternity lawyer who can properly dispute paternity of the child and help you with the process of disputing paternity. Wallin & Klarich has experienced paternity attorneys who can help you with custody and visitation issues. If you have questions or concerns about your case, call us today at 888-749-7428.