PATERNITY

There are some families in which parents never marry. When unmarried people have a child together, sometimes they want to make sure that both parents’ rights are protected, or they may disagree on how best to support and make decisions for their child. Filing an action to establish paternity allows these families to make sure that their children are cared for, both during the parents’ relationship and after that relationship has ended. If the parents’ relationship has ended or if they never had a relationship to begin with, a paternity action can help them address issues like custody, physical placement (visitation), and child support, both through settlement negotiations and in court. A court can also appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of the child or order genetic testing to confirm or deny paternity. Balisle & Roberson, S.C. has extensive experience in helping unmarried families with children achieve fair solutions that fit each family’s individual circumstances.