PATERNITY ATTORNEY
IN NEWTON, KANSAS

According to a recent study by the American Association of Blood Banks, over 300,000 paternity tests are conducted annually in the United States to determine a child's biological father. In Kansas, establishing paternity is important for any father who wishes to gain parental rights and privileges for their children. Establishing paternity allows the father to fight for custody and participate in the child's life and upbringing. If you live in Kansas and you are trying to establish paternity, it is crucial that you speak to an experienced family law attorney for detailed guidance.

For more than four decades, I have been providing experienced legal counsel and guidance to clients facing the legal processes involved with establishing paternity. I'm available to discuss your unique situation and help you understand all of the legal options that are available to you. Whether you need to establish paternity, seek physical or legal custody, or implement a parenting plan, I can offer you the detailed guidance, support, and reliable advocacy you need at every phase of the legal process.

My firm, Cornerstone Law, LLC, is proud to serve clients throughout Newton, Kansas, and the surrounding areas of Hutchinson, Marion, Hillsboro, Wichita, McPherson, and Harvey. Call today to learn more about how I can help you with your case

WHY PATERNITY IS IMPORTANT

In the eyes of the law, paternity means legal fatherhood. It is the legal process of establishing whether a particular male is the child's biological father. Establishing paternity can potentially benefit the child, the mother, and the father.

IMPORTANCE TO THE CHILD

Establishing paternity is important to the child in a number of different ways. It can help with all of the following:

• Help the child find his or her identity and learn about family history

• Allow the child to receive financial assistance, shelter, and support from the father

• Provide the child with access to life insurance, medical insurance, and other benefits

• Allow the child to enjoy a cordial father-child relationship

• Provide the child with access to the father's medical information, including medical history and health risks

• Make it possible for the child to benefit from the father's social security and veteran benefits

• Makes the child eligible to inherit the father's estate and assets

• Gives the child the right to sue for bodily harm, injuries, or death of the father

IMPORTANCE TO THE MOTHER

Establishing paternity also offers a number of benefits to the mother, including:

• Sharing physical and legal custody with the father

• Sharing parental responsibilities with the father

• Seeking child support payments from the father

• Sharing the costs of upbringing their child

• Creating plans for parenting time or visitation

IMPORTANCE TO THE FATHER

Establishing paternity can also help the father by allowing him to:

• Gain legal rights to the child

• Participate in their child's life and the upbringing of the child

• Become eligible for custody or parenting time

ESTABLISHING PATERNITY IN KANSAS

There are two ways to establish paternity in Kansas. These two categories include voluntary paternity and involuntary paternity. The difference between the two is as follows:

VOLUNTARY PATERNITY

Paternity is established voluntarily by signing the "Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP)" form. Each parent must sign the form and date it in the presence of a witness. Once signed, the father's name will be added to the child's birth certification.

INVOLUNTARY PATERNITY

When paternity is disputed, parentage may be established involuntarily through the judicial process. The court may order genetic testing, and everyone must submit to testing. Based on the genetic testing results, if the alleged father is the baby's legal and biological father, the judge will issue a final paternity judgment. This certifies that paternity has been formally established, and the father's name will be added to the child's birth certificate.

PETITION TO ESTABLISH PARENTAGE

Under Kansas law, any of the following persons or agencies may file a paternity action in court:

• The child

• The mother

• A government official or local prosecutor

• The presumed (alleged) father.

HOW AN EXPERIENCED FAMILY
LAW ATTORNEY CAN HELP

Fathers play a huge and vital role in the lives of children. If you are the child's father, you deserve to have parental rights, custody, or access to your child. Unfortunately, there can be a lot of legal complexities involved in establishing parentage. Therefore, when trying to establish paternity, it is important to consult with an experienced family law attorney who can provide detailed guidance and protect your legal rights.

At Cornerstone Law, LLC, I am committed to offering comprehensive legal counsel, advocacy, and reliable representation to clients facing family law and paternity-related matters. As your legal counsel, I can review the details of your unique situation, help you explore all of your rights and responsibilities, and examine your available legal options.

Additionally, I will help you complete and file the necessary legal paperwork and guide you through every phase of the legal process. I will work diligently with both parents in an effort to establish a fair parenting arrangement, including child custody, support, and visitation. Even if you need to take additional legal action, I can help you file a paternity action with the court. 

Using my extensive experience, I will fight compassionately to protect your parental rights and your family's best interests. So if you or someone you know needs help with a paternity issue, call or reach out to my office today to schedule a case consultation.