not sure if you are the father
TRANSCRIPT
Not Sure if You are the Father?
Notification of fatherhood may come to you from the Family Court in the form of a Petition
to Establish Parental Relationship, or from Child Support Services. No matter how it comes,
it is best to take action right away. In some instances you may not know who the mom is and
are certain you are not the father, or you may know the mom and still be unsure as to whether
the child is yours or not.
Whatever the situation, your response depends on what you receive. If you received a Notice
and Complaint from Child Support Services you will have 30 days to respond to it. When
you respond you must say that you are NOT the parent and request a DNA test. Child
Support Services will typically arrange for the testing. If the test comes back negative, Child
Support Services will usually dismiss the case.
If you are served with a Petition to Establish
Parental Relationship, also known as a Paternity
Action, from the Family Court you will also need to
Respond within 30 days. However, make sure to
check either the box indicating that you are unsure
that you are the father OR that you are sure that you
are not the father. You can also request a DNA test
to confirm paternity.
Do not wait to dispute Paternity. Make sure to reply right away so as to request a DNA test
to confirm fatherhood. Those who wait or who do not respond correctly run the risk of being
determined the father and paying the necessary Child Support. If the dad waits more than 2
years, once a judgment as to Paternity has been made, the courts will not change the
determination.
If you have questions regarding Paternity or have received a document regarding Paternity,
give us a call! We can determine how best to handle your specific case and see that a DNA
test is administered. We can be reached at 1-800-HELP-444 (1-800-435-7444) or visit our
website for more information www.LegalActionWorkshopLAW.com .