Bakersfield Paternity Attorneys

Helping You Pursue or Contest a Paternity Action

How Can a Parent Establish Paternity in California?

Assuming both parents do not fulfill the above conditions, California parents have a few options when it comes to establishing paternity.

Signing a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage or Paternity

After signing the declaration, the parents must file it with the California Department of Child Support Services Parentage Opportunity Program. After the DCSS assesses the declaration, they will establish paternity for the father, giving them parentage rights and enabling the mother to request child support (if necessary).

Parents can file to rescind a declaration of parentage, but terminating paternity can be difficult or impossible after the DCSS processes and accepts a declaration.

Establishing Paternity Through DCSS

If a parent works with DCSS, their local child support agency will often issue a genetic test to the alleged father. If the test returns positive, DCSS can use that data to establish paternity for the child.

Establishing Paternity Through the Court

Because the DCSS often has a long wait-time, some parents choose to try and establish parentage through a court order instead of by working with their local child support agency.

If you choose to utilize this method, you can work with your lawyer and a court to file a parentage case. This involves filing parentage case forms, serving the alleged father, and attending a trial to determine whether or not to establish paternity for the father.

Regardless of how you choose to establish paternity, doing so has several benefits:

• The father can pay for child support;
• The father can acquire parental rights, enabling them to contribute to their child’s life;
• The child has easier access to information about each parent, including medical records.