Lawrenceville Legitimation Lawyer

Handling Establishment of Paternity in Family Law Matters

In Georgia, legitimation is a legal term referring to the establishment of the paternity of a child. Most often, an order of legitimation is sought out in an attempt by a mother to obtain child support payments or by a father to gain custody or visitation rights. Either way, it is important to consult an attorney as soon as possible to see what is needed to legitimate a child.

Determining who a child’s birth father is can be a fairly simple process when both parents agree on the issue. In this case, a signed legal agreement might be all that is needed. In other cases, having a father’s name on a birth certificate or having a child share the father’s last name might not be enough to fully establish paternity when there is a dispute between the mother and father. When this is the situation, DNA testing might be needed in order to establish paternity. While paternity determines that an individual is the biological father of a child, it does not automatically establish a legal relationship between that father and child under Georgia law. In cases in which a child is born to parents who are not married, legitimation can lead to the biological father’s recognition as the legal father.

The father of a child has certain responsibilities when it comes to that child’s care. These include helping to support the child financially. Additionally, a father has rights when it comes to his child. He has the right to request legal or physical custody and have a say in the decisions made regarding the child’s future. He also has the right to request the opportunity to visit his son or daughter in the case that he and the child’s mother are not living together. Without legitimation, these rights cannot be acted upon.

The Lawrenceville divorce and family law attorney from Fox Firm, P.C. is experienced with orders of legitimation and is dedicated to helping his clients—both mothers and fathers—in establishing paternity for their children. We most often see this is necessary when a man and woman have a child out of wedlock, or while a married couple is going through a divorce or legal separation and there is a question about the paternity of their child. Legitimation cases are handled in superior and juvenile courts.

Determining Paternity in Lawrenceville

If you are looking to establish the paternity of your child, a Lawrenceville family law attorney from Fox Firm, P.C. might be able to help. There are specific state rules that apply in legitimating a child in Georgia, so it is crucial that you work with a knowledgeable legal professional if you want to be sure you are taking the correct steps in establishing paternity.

When you work with your firm, you can have the assurance of knowing that your case in the hands of a highly experienced lawyer. Attorney Douglas N. Fox has been practicing family law for more than 16 years and is able to assist his clients in a variety of areas related to such matters. He serves clients throughout the metro Atlanta area in Georgia—particularly those in Gwinnett County. We welcome you to contact our offices and see how we could help you with your legitimation issue.