Long Beach Paternity Lawyers

If you have a paternity dispute, Alternative Divorce Solutions is here to assist you. Our Long Beach paternity lawyers can help you and the other party work toward an agreement that satisfies everyone involved. Through it all, we keep the child’s best interests in mind and prioritize their well-being.

How Is Paternity Established in California?

Voluntary Declaration of Paternity

After a child is born, a father has the option to get a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity (VDP). This legal document allows unmarried parents to declare the paternity of their child. Once filed with the court, the biological father and the child have a legal parent-child relationship.

If a VDP is not submitted, further action will need to be taken to establish paternity. Typically, this involves a court order for genetic testing from the mother and father.

There are several parties who may request the court’s assistance in establishing paternity, including:

• The child’s mother
• The man who believes he is the child’s father
• A public child support agency
• An adoption agency

The Benefits of Establishing Paternity

Perhaps you are unsure about whether you should establish paternity of your child. At Alternative Divorce Solutions, we believe that establishing paternity is a vital part of a child’s well-being.

When legal fatherhood is established, it can provide many essential benefits to the child, including:

• Legal Benefits: Establishing paternity makes a child eligible to receive key benefits such as child support, life insurance, inheritance rights, veteran’s benefits, and Social Security

• Emotional Benefits: Establishing paternity affirms a child’s self-identity and enables a child to benefit from a relationship with his or her father and the father’s family

• Medical Histories: Establishing paternity helps doctors accurately diagnose and treat illnesses and disorders the child may have