Establishing paternity means a court determination that a man is the father of a child. There are several ways this can happen in Indiana. One is if a child is born to a husband and wife within the marriage. Courts presume that the husband is the father of the child. Another way courts presume that a man is the father of the child is if the man signs a paternity affidavit within a certain amount of time after the birth of the child.
For men who are interested in establishing paternity, there are certain things that the law requires to preserve your rights. It is critical that you consult with a paternity lawyer to discuss your rights and options.
When paternity is established, that is, when the court determines that a man is the father of a child, both the father and the mother have the right to be involved in parenting the child. Often, issues of child custody, child support, and parenting time come up when dealing with paternity. You should have an attorney on your side that can help guide you.
Regardless of whether your or another person seeks court intervention to establish the biological paternity of a child, you need to hire experienced Indianapolis paternity lawyers to help secure your rights. Child custody, child support, and parenting time involve many factors that the court considers. Your future is about to change. Do not go to court by yourself. See the below Indiana Code link for more information.
*See complete Indiana Code for all statutes. This is a partial listing only.