Dayton Paternity Lawyers

Father holding sonIssues of paternity can create high levels of stress and aggravation among all parties involved. Fathers may be frustrated because they are being denied time with their child. Mothers may be annoyed because the father is refusing to acknowledge his son or daughter. If you find yourself in such a situation, it is important to take the matter to the Court in order to establish who the father is. A Judge will not issue an order regarding custody and support until paternity has been established. Handling all the matters in such a case may seem overwhelming. It is highly recommended that you contact an attorney to assist you. Our Dayton paternity lawyers have handled many such matters and are ready to assist you. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.

Dayton paternity lawyers assisting with child custody and child support disputes

Under Ohio law, one is essentially not considered the father of a child until paternity is established. This means that, without an establishment of parentage, the Court will not rule on issues such as child custody, visitation, and child support. Ohio will presume that a male is the father of a child if he is married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth or if he divorced the mother less than three hundred days before birth. If a child is born to unwed parents, no presumptions apply, and paternity must be established. In this latter situation, the father would have no rights to consent to medical care, to request visitation, or to obtain school records. Once paternity is established, the Court may award back child support and compensatory visitation.

The first step in a paternity case is to file a Complaint for Parentage. In addition to the establishment of paternity, the Complaint will also make requests regarding the establishment of a parenting plan, the establishment of child support, and other related issues. A hearing will typically be held at which the Court will order DNA testing. If the test results are negative, the case will end. If the results are positive, the Court will issue a temporary ruling regarding custody, visitation, and support. The Court will also set a trial date for the purpose of establishing a more permanent arrangement. If the matter does not settle, it will proceed to trial and the Judge will decide all issues after the presentation of evidence. Litigating such matters can involve complicated issues of fact. It is strongly suggested that you retain an experienced attorney to assist you.

Our Dayton paternity lawyers understand the important nature of such cases. We will use your initial consultation to gain an understanding of your situation and to help you understand what to expect from the process. We will quickly file a Complaint and any necessary Motions with the Court. Once the DNA tests come back, we will argue for a fair support and visitation structure. Our firm will then use the discovery process to build a case for a more permanent custody solution. Our discovery effort will focus on the other side’s stability, finances, and overall fitness to parent. If a settlement is not reached, we will aggressively protect your interests at trial. We understand that this is a serious time in your life. We will give your case the attention it deserves. Contact us today.

Dayton family law lawyers bringing decades of experience to cases involving paternity disputes

Our Dayton lawyers are here to make sure that you do not have to go through the Court process alone. We have over forty years of combined experience and will use this knowledge in our efforts to ensure that your case proceeds in the most efficient manner possible. Our goal is to make sure you are able to focus on the most important thing – your family. We will also stay in regular communication with you, provide you with copies of all relevant documents, and ensure that your questions are answered. Our attorneys are honored to serve southwest Ohio and we take these obligations seriously.

We also assist those in the areas of Beavercreek, Centerville, Clayton, Eaton, Englewood, Fairborn, Franklin, Harrison Township, Huber Heights, Kettering, Oakwood, Lebanon, Miami Township, Miamisburg, Piqua, Riverside, Springboro,  Springfield, Tipp City, Trotwood, Troy,  Vandalia, Waynesville, Washington Township, West Carrollton, Yellow Springs, and Xenia.

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