Lombard, IL Paternity Attorneys

Experienced Attorneys Helping Clients Establish Paternity in Lombard, Illinois

Most of the time, it is best for children if both of their parents are involved in their lives. However, there are some cases where steps will need to be taken to ensure that a person is recognized as a child's legal parent. Establishing paternity can provide multiple benefits for the parents and the child, and working with an attorney to address these concerns can help ensure that matters will be resolved quickly while minimizing conflicts whenever possible.

At A. Traub & Associates, we firmly believe the relationships between parents and their children are very important. We also understand that, in certain cases, a little extra effort may be needed to establish a legal parent-child relationship. Legal paternity or parentage provides the basis for ensuring that a child will receive the benefits and support he or she deserves. It also allows both parents to exercise their parenting rights regarding their child.

Our family law attorneys work with parents to meet all legal requirements when establishing paternity, and we can also determine the best ways to handle other related issues, including child custody and child support. Regardless of the situation, we will provide compassionate legal support while working to find solutions that will provide for a child's best interests.

Presumed Parentage in Illinois

Under Illinois law, when a child is born to a married—or very recently divorced—couple, the mother's spouse is presumed to be the child's other legal parent. The same is true if the couple marries after the child's birth, and the spouse's name has been listed on the child's birth certificate. These guidelines, thanks to recent updates in the law, apply to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples. Establishing parentage in most marital situations is relatively simple, but the process can be more complicated for parents who are not married.

Securing the Parent-Child Relationship

When there is no presumed father or another parent, or if it seems likely that someone other than the presumed parent is the child's biological father, parentage may be established in one of several ways. The child's parents can complete and sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, which is a form that recognizes the identity of the child's father. Both parents must sign this form voluntarily, and this can be done at any time after the child's birth.

Alternatively, parents can file a petition in court to determine parentage. In these cases, a judge will usually order genetic testing. Once a DNA test confirms a relationship between a father and child, the court will issue an order naming the father as the child's legal parent. As you take steps to legally establish paternity, our compassionate attorneys are ready to help you get the answers you need while looking out for your child's best interests and long-term well-being.

Lombard, IL Advocates for Mothers and Alleged Fathers

The experienced team at A. Traub & Associates can help mothers take the right steps to ensure that a child's father is named as a legal parent so they can receive financial assistance to help raise a child. The first step in securing child support is often a determination of paternity. Once parentage is established, the court can take steps to put child support orders in place. When addressing these issues, our lawyers will remain at our client's side every step of the way.

We also recognize the importance of fathers' rights and the benefits that children can receive when their fathers are part of their lives. With that in mind, we proudly help men who are looking to establish paternity for their child so that they can share in parental responsibilities (formerly known as child custody) and parenting time (visitation). When necessary, we can also assist in settling disputes over parentage, and we can assist clients with the sensitive process of denying paternity in appropriate situations.

Contact Our Lombard, IL Paternity Attorneys

If you have additional questions about establishing paternity or the benefits of legal parentage in Illinois, or if you would like to discuss your own situation in greater detail, contact the offices of A. Traub & Associates. We will answer your questions and help you fully understand your legal options, and we will provide you with effective legal representation as you put arrangements in place that will provide for your child's best interests. Call 630-426-0196 today. From offices in Lombard and Arlington Heights, Illinois, we are proud to serve clients in and around DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, and Cook County.