Grovetown Father’s Rights Lawyer
Fathers have diverse roles and responsibilities within their families. Many are the primary breadwinners, while others fulfill both the financial provider and emotional support roles. In some cases, fathers work alongside mothers to support their children, while others may not be married to or have recently divorced their child’s mother.
Unmarried fathers encounter difficulties in asserting their parental rights, as the law automatically grants full parental rights to the mother. Fortunately, states like Georgia acknowledge that unmarried fathers, especially biological parents, deserve the right to be actively involved in their children’s lives. For divorced fathers, their rights remain protected even after separating from their child’s mother. However, men seeking to utilize the law to establish parental rights will require legal assistance to navigate the procedures for confirming paternity and legalizing their rights.
Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm is a reputable Grovetown , GA family law firm that you can rely on in your effort to establish or contest paternity. We will help you comprehend the state’s paternity laws and assist you in handling your Grovetown father’s rights case with care and efficiency. Our legal team assures you that, regardless of the outcome of your father’s rights case, we will strive to minimize the impact on your relationship with the child.
Call Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm at (706) 914-2904 for your Free Initial Consultation with our Grovetown Father’s Rights Lawyer!
Paternity Law in Georgia
In Georgia, an unmarried man who wishes to acknowledge a child as his own and be recognized as the legitimate father must establish paternity before filing a legitimation petition. According to the law, establishing paternity identifies an unmarried man as the biological father, creating his legal duty to support the child. Only after being recognized as the “biological” father can a man file a legitimation claim to secure his parental rights.
The law distinguishes between a “biological” father, an “alleged” father, and a “legal” father, each with different rights and restrictions. The differentiation also indicates how parental rights can be gained or lost when under this status:
Alleged or claimed father
A man identified as the alleged father possesses no parental rights or responsibilities. However, if he wishes to establish legal paternity without the requirement of proving it, he can either marry the child’s mother or formally acknowledge the child as his own.
Biological father
Biological father
A man identified as the biological father is legally obligated to provide child support. While they do not have parental rights, they can take legal action to be declared as the legal father.
Legal father
A man recognized as the legal father of a child is entitled to equal parental rights as the child’s mother, regardless of their cohabitation.
Our Grovetown, GA family law firm can provide detailed information on the state’s paternity laws when you contact us about your case. We will assess your situation to determine the necessary legal actions for promptly establishing and legitimizing your paternity. Count on us to explain the relevant legal processes, allowing you to make informed decisions on how to proceed.
Establishing Father’s Rights
There are two ways for an unmarried father to establish paternity in Georgia: signing the voluntary paternity acknowledgment form and obtaining a court order. The first method can be completed without legal procedure and must be done immediately after a child’s birth if the unmarried father is present in the hospital or the State Office of Vital Records. The Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) can also be contacted if an alleged father wishes to conduct a DNA test before signing the voluntary paternity acknowledgment form.
If a paternity case is already in court, or if the parents prefer it, the DCSS will arrange DNA testing for the court to consider when issuing an order to establish a child’s paternity. If the DNA testing is positive, the court will confirm that the alleged father is both the biological and legal parent of the child. If the results are negative, the court will dismiss the order, indicating that the alleged father is not the child’s biological parent. The court may also issue child support orders once the DNA test results confirm a positive match.
While an Grovetown father’s rights lawyer is not necessary when signing the voluntary paternity acknowledgment form or speaking with the DCSS, you can still contact us at Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm to help you understand your new responsibilities. Reach out if you wish to prove that you are not the child’s parent or resolve any issues that may lead you to question the paternity of the child or feel that your rights are being threatened.
The Importance of Legally Protecting Your Relationship
If you are not married to your child’s mother, establishing and legally recognizing your paternity becomes crucial for involvement in your child’s life. Without this legal recognition, some mothers may deny you access to their child.
By legally establishing your paternity, you not only prevent such issues but also gain the right to be actively involved in your child’s future. Your children will inherit your assets, and you will have access to information previously unavailable, such as medical records.
Trust Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm to assist you in fighting for your paternal rights and ensuring all parties acknowledge them. We can also collaborate with the DCSS and the court for your paternity test, guiding you through the legal process if the results lean differently.
Divorced Father’s Rights
Fathers who have separated from their child’s mother, for any reason, retain their paternal rights. They can continue to be involved in their child’s life, and their status as the biological father remains unchanged even if the mother remarries.
During divorce proceedings, it is expected that a custody and visitation agreement is established to enable the father’s ongoing involvement in their child’s life.
However, some mothers may not recognize their former spouse’s rights to maintain contact with their children after the divorce. Georgia law acknowledges this issue and has implemented safeguards to protect the rights of divorced fathers.
Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm can assist you in reporting such issues and ensuring that your father’s rights are respected by the other party.
Contesting Established Paternity
Georgia law outlines the process for an alleged or legal father to contest established paternity if there is evidence proving that he is not the child’s father.
If a voluntary paternity acknowledgment form was signed, the alleged father or mother of the child could contest it within two months after submission. However, the parent must submit a rescission form to the vital records office or the court that issued the child support order, along with the paternity establishment order. The court may also order DNA testing alongside evidence proving that you are not the child’s father.
Our experienced team of Grovetown father’s rights lawyers can assist you in filing the necessary forms and presenting evidence to contest the paternity of the child. We will ensure you undergo a paternity test, inform all parties about your petition, and guarantee that once approved, you will not be required to continue paying child support.
Free Consultation Today
Whether you are unmarried to your child’s mother or have been divorced, the law is on your side when it comes to fighting for your father’s rights. It also supports you if there is a reason to contest claims or doubt your child’s paternity, even if you are established as their parent.
Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm is ready to assist you with your father’s rights cases and take the necessary legal actions to resolve them. Our legal team will strive to prevent further complications from affecting your relationship with the child during the resolution of your father’s rights case.
Call Joseph T. Rhodes Law Firm at (706) 914-2904 for your Free Initial Consultation with our Grovetown Father’s Rights Lawyer!