Highlands Ranch Paternity Lawyer

Paternity Attorney in Highlands Ranch, CO

Determining who a child’s legal parent is can raise many questions about parental rights and responsibilities. If you’re looking for a Highlands Ranch paternity lawyer, you might have questions about Colorado paternity laws. A Highlands Ranch paternity attorney can provide guidance regarding your legal parental status, including how to establish legal parentage or how to dispute a child’s legal father.

Fuller & Ahern, P.C., Can Help Clear Up Complex Family Issues

Attorney Susan Fuller opened Fuller & Ahern, P.C., in 1997. She has helped families across Douglas County and the Denver Metro area navigate complex family issues for more than 25 years. Providing thoughtful, practical, and personalized advice has been the cornerstone of Susan Fuller’s practice since she began working in family law in 1990.

At Fuller & Ahern, P.C., our attorneys have over 75 years of legal experience. We work hard to see that you know what to expect while guiding you through the legal process with personalized care and attention.

Why Paternity Matters

Legal parentage determines who has parental rights and responsibilities toward a child. Establishing paternity between a father and child can impact financial support, inheritance, access to benefits, and decision-making for a child.

Paternity issues often involve child support, but legal parentage can matter for other reasons as well. Once paternity is legally established, a child gains access to vital resources like a parent’s medical history, health insurance coverage, Social Security benefits, and potential veterans’ benefits. Paternity also has consequences for parents, establishing both rights and responsibilities toward a child.

Colorado Paternity Laws

Colorado law includes several statutes regarding paternity and who is recognized as a child’s legal parent(s). Most paternity matters are decided under Colorado’s Uniform Parentage Act. Colorado law generally presumes that a husband is the father of his wife’s child. If the parents of a child are not married, paternity may need to be established before the father’s legal relationship with the child is recognized.

Colorado Revised Statutes § 19-4-105 lists several instances where an individual may be presumed to be a father. Colorado Revised Statutes § 19-4-107 identifies who can file a parentage case and what happens during the proceedings.

Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity

Not all paternity issues must be litigated. If both parents know who the father is and agree, they can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. This form allows parents to establish paternity without jumping right into a legal claim. After being filed with the court, the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form establishes a legal parent-child relationship and can be used to list the father on the birth certificate.

Sometimes conflict arises after parents file these forms if someone questions parentage or parental rights.

Common Issues Decided in a Paternity Case

When parents establish who the child’s parents are through the court, there are often other issues the judge must decide as well. These family law issues can impact the day-to-day care of the child and parenting decisions going forward. Common issues related to paternity cases include:

• Child support
• Parenting time
• Reimbursement of certain expenses
• Responsibilities of each parent
• Costs (including testing costs)
• Insurance

Since most paternity cases involve these issues, paternity cases lay the groundwork for future parenting relationships.

Why People Hire a Paternity Lawyer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that unmarried women gave birth to 1,440,031 live births in the United States. This accounted for 40% of all births. In Ohio alone, unmarried women gave birth to 41.7% of live births. This highlights the need and urgency of proving paternity.

Establishing who a child’s parents are can raise many issues. Parents who want to understand their rights and responsibilities under Colorado law often hire a paternity lawyer. During a paternity claim, issues of parenting time, financial support, and legal decision-making often arise.

Retaining legal counsel can help you understand court procedures and see that all issues are addressed. Because every family is unique, it can be beneficial to have access to personalized legal advice when making decisions that affect your child’s life.

Most families residing in Highlands Ranch proceed through Douglas County District Court for paternity issues. The District Court hears family law cases, including those concerning parentage, support, parenting responsibilities, and other related family law issues. This court is located at 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109.

FAQs

Does Establishing Paternity Automatically Create a Parenting Schedule?

No, establishing paternity does not automatically create a parenting schedule. Legal parentage of a child must be established before the court can determine parenting time, decision-making, or any other issue related to the children. Parents can agree to parenting time and decision-making arrangements. If parents cannot agree, the court enters orders it deems to be in the best interests of the child.

Can Grandparents Become Involved in a Paternity Dispute?

Paternity cases involve only the parents of a child. Grandparents typically do not have much to do with these cases. However, grandparents may become involved with other family law issues surrounding paternity cases. If there are questions regarding who is to care for the child, the relationships within a family, or any number of other legal proceedings, grandparents can become involved with part of a family law case.

Will a Paternity Case Become a Part of the Public Record?

It is possible that a paternity case can become a part of the public record. Court filings are public documents, but there may be some limits on the discovery of family law filings. Courts are often protective of information involving children. Depending on the type of records requested and court rules on confidentiality, some or all of the information may be available.

Can a Paternity Determination Affect Future Family Law Proceedings?

In many cases, a paternity determination leads to other legal actions concerning the child later down the road. If parents have established paternity, they can ask the court to modify parenting time, review child support, allow a parent to relocate, or look at other family law issues. Parentage can have lasting implications for your family.

Take Paternity Action Today

Establishing paternity is important for both the child and the parents involved. At Fuller & Ahern, P.C., we can help you do so for the benefit of your family. Contact us right away to begin advocating for your future.