Paternity and legitimation are important fathers' rights. Lunn Law LLC assists in these particular areas of law. There are numerous legal situations where paternity and legitimation are important. A paternity and legitimation attorney are important partners in helping you get the right result.
To elaborate, paternity means the quality or state of being a father (i.e. fatherhood). Genetic testing is one method to establish paternity. Hence the numerous situations where one has a paternity test which include:
Establishing proof of heritage for an adopted child seeking their biological parent;
Assisting mothers seeking child support from a man who denies he is the child's father;
Assisting men wishing to confirm paternity;
Determining grand parentage, inheritance rights, Social Security benefits and insurance claims; and
Determining heirs by DNA profiling for estate purposes.
Additionally, the people that can file a petition of paternity are
The interest of the child,
The mother of the child,
Any relative in whose care the child has been placed,
The Department of Human resources, and
One who is alleged to be the father.
When looking to establish paternity in Georgia, it is important understand the various aspects of the law.
Georgia law permits the mother of a child born out of wedlock to have sole custody rights to the child. Only the biological father of a child is to file a petition to legitimate his child. Thus, a biological father must file a legitimation action in court to obtain any parental rights such as custody or visitation. Legitimation of a child will accomplish a number of things. Firstly, it recognizes the biological father as the legal father and gives the child the right to inherit from the father and vice versa. Secondly, the legal father can have custody and visitation rights once legitimation is in place.
Your case is important. The first meeting with Lunn Law in developing your custody strategy is with the vision you have as a father. The court will look at the best interest of the child which includes several factors including:
The child's need for stability and continuity
The strength of the emotional bond with the child
The quality of the home environment, including how nurturing and safe it is
The detailed history of each parent's involvement
Each parent's understanding of the child's needs
The ability and disposition of each parent regarding childcare
Depending on your circumstances, legitimation proceedings can be challenging and emotional. Strong legal guidance will improve your chances of successfully establishing your parental and custody rights.
In conclusion, schedule a consultation today. Lunn Law LLC primarily assists with paternity and legitimation throughout the Metro-Atlanta area including Jonesboro, McDonough, Stockbridge, South Atlanta, Fayetteville, and other communities in Clayton County, Henry County, Douglas County, Fulton County, Fayette County, and Spalding County.
