Serving Clients in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Surrounding Areas
When a parent is hoping to prove paternity, there’s more involved than just arranging visitations or collecting child support payments. These types of cases are about doing what’s best for the child(ren) and ensuring they receive everything they’re entitled to. Also, to have the opportunity to build quality relationships with their parents.
At The Law Offices of Bruce A. Mandel, we have 30 years of experience providing Torrance families with the legal advice they need to ensure their kids are protected.
Whatever the reason is that you need to prove paternity, our knowledgeable team is here to help.
Why Is It Important To Prove Paternity?
Within the California Court System, filing for paternity is a way of establishing parentage of one or more children.
Two of the most common reasons men and women seek to prove paternity is to obtain necessary financial support and to allow both parents to have either joint custody or visitations with the child(ren).
These are not, however, the sole reasons parents find themselves filing paternity cases throughout California. Some of the others causes for proving paternity include:
- To obtain legal documents that identify both parents
- The ability to have both parents’ names on the child’s birth certificate
- Legal access to family records and history
- Medical and life insurance coverage from either or both parents
- The right to obtain an inheritance from either parent
- The right to receive veteran’s benefits or social security benefits, if eligible
- The option for the child’s father to sign documents on their behalf, i.e., releases and permission forms
What’s Involved In Filing Paternity Actions?
In California, legal actions to prove paternity can be filed by either men or women. After the appropriate documents have been filed, however, any component of the relationship can instantly become an issue, such as visitation rights.
At The Law Offices of Bruce A. Mandel, our knowledgeable team works hard to assist clients in navigating the paternity process, no matter how complicated the experience may be.
We work alongside both mothers and fathers who are trying to prove paternity, so they can better care for their children.
Our team can help you throughout the entire process, including taking actions to obtain DNA results, scheduling and overseeing mediation opportunities, and drafting any relevant documents needed by either parent.
When you work with us, you can also feel confident your case will be handled with the utmost privacy and discretion.
What Happens If Both Individuals Agree On The Child’s Parentage?
In the event that a man and woman agree on a child’s paternity, the process to establish that parentage is much simpler. All that’s required is the signing of a ‘Voluntary Declaration of Paternity’ form.
This form can be completed quickly and states that each parent willingly acknowledges that they are the parents of the child, and the man is the biological and legal father. Depending on individual cases, this form can be signed either at the child’s birth or at a later date.
It is important to realize, however, that once this form has been completed and filed, each party is relinquishing their opportunity to legally dispute the father’s parentage of the child at a later date.
If you’re trying to decide whether this form is the right choice for you and your child, you need an experienced attorney who can get the job done right. Bruce A. Mandel is here to help.
Contact Our Team To Begin The Paternity Process In Torrance, CA
It’s helpful to understand what you can expect from the process if you’re interested in beginning paternity proceedings. Each paternity case generally involves several different steps, including filing a petition, undergoing a pretrial hearing, and obtaining genetic testing.
The first step you should always take, however, is contacting a reputable family law attorney in Torrance, CA—that’s where The Law Offices of Bruce A. Mandel come in.
Our office commits to providing the knowledgeable and considerate care our clients need to look out for the well-being of their families. From helping you receive much-needed financial or insurance coverage from your child’s biological father, or assisting dads who just want to spend more time and provide more to their kids, we can help.
Give our office a call today at (424) 250-9130 to schedule a , in-person consultation. You can also fill out our easy-to-use online form for more information on the California paternity process.
