Paternity Lawyer in New York City

Establishing Paternity

In New York City, a child born within a marriage is legally presumed to be the child of both spouses. In the event that the parents are not married, the couples can look into filing an Acknowledgment of Paternity. This is a special form provided by the State of New York which can be filed to declare paternity. While this can be done at a hospital, it can also be done anywhere else so long as the signing is done in front of a witness and in the presence of a Notary Public before being filed with the proper government agency. All parents should be aware that signing an acknowledgment of paternity waives your right to seek a DNA (blood genetic marker) test at a later time. The acknowledgment will have the same force and effect as a court order of paternity. If there is any doubt as the parentage of a child, you should seek the services of a qualified New York City divorce attorney such as Vivien I. Stark, Esq.

Consequences of a Paternity Finding

There are many consequences of a paternity finding. In terms of the welfare of the child, it affects access to Social Security, veteran's, inheritance, health care and life insurance benefits, where available. It also provides a more comprehensive family medical history, assisting in the medical care of the child throughout the child's life.

A paternity finding can afford the father custody or visitation rights. Child support can also be obtained or denied based on a determination of paternity. These matters would be resolved in separate proceedings following the resolution of the paternity case. At the Law Office of Vivien I. Stark, we wish to help our clients through this process and achieve a smooth resolution that allows them to move forward with their lives.

Contact a paternity lawyer in NYC today for assistance with your paternity case.