Attleboro, Massachusetts: Paternity Actions
Bristol County ∙ Norfolk County ∙ Plymouth County ∙ Barnstable County ∙ Worcester County
A paternity action is the formal legal name given to a legal action to establish who the father is. A child's mother may file a paternity action for the purposes of obtaining a child support award from the father. A child's father may also file a paternity action for the purposes of enforcing his rights to parenting time with, or even custody of, the child.
In other words, unmarried parents still have parental rights and responsibilities relating to their children. A child's primary parent, usually the mother, has the right to child support from the child's father, and the child's father has a legal right to visitation time with the child.
The Process of Establishing Paternity
Establishing legal paternity requires making a formal petition to the court, asking a judge to make a formal decision about who the father of the child is. When the alleged father denies paternity, the court may order a DNA test for paternity.
Any action for child support or visitation rights is separate, and must be made after the paternity action is successfully completed.
The Experienced Family Law Attorneys of Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs
If you are considering filing a paternity action, or if you have had a paternity action filed against you, obtain legal advice and representation from the knowledgeable family law attorneys of Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs, Law Counsellors, Inc.
Our lawyers each have decades of experience handling all types of family law legal matters before the Massachusetts courts, and we have developed a reputation for providing practical advice and strong representation for our clients in paternity actions — as well as in legal actions for child support or visitation rights.
If you have questions about filing a paternity action, or if a paternity action has been filed against you, contact our office to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys. Call (508) 455-3241 or contact us via e-mail.
