Troy Paternity Lawyers
A significant number of couples in Michigan and nationwide are having children outside of marriage, which results in increasing occurrences of legal issues regarding paternity. Paternity is simply establishing the biological father of a child.
If a mother is married when a baby is born, the husband is assumed to be the legal father. Both parents can establish paternity of child when the mother is not married by signing an affidavit of parentage and filing it with the state. A mother or father of a child or the state can order that paternity be established through DNA testing.
A mother may wish to establish legal paternity in order to have the court order payment of child support. A father may wish to establish legal paternity in order to obtain parental rights, including time with the child. The experienced family law attorneys at Sakis & Sakis, PLC, assist individuals in paternity matters.
Michigan Increases Unwed Fathers’ Rights Regarding Paternity
In 2012, state lawmakers passed Public Act 159, which extends paternity rights for unwed biological fathers. The law is also known as the “Michigan Revocation of Paternity Act,” and its intent is to provide biological fathers the right to establish paternity of a child who was born or conceived while the mother was married to someone other than the biological father. Viewed another way, the law also allows presumed fathers — a man who was married to a woman when she gave birth — the right to challenge paternity. This must be done within three years of the child’s birth.
In addition to child support, custody and visitation rights, there are other important reasons to establish paternity. These include:
- Establishing the child’s right to receive a father’s Social Security or veterans benefits
- Providing health insurance for the child through the father’s coverage
- Establishing inheritance rights for a child
- Establishing the legal right to obtain a financial recovery in the event of a wrongful death action
Contact Our Troy Paternity Attorneys
We invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our Tri-County paternity lawyers. We will review the facts of your case, provide a straightforward assessment and recommend the best steps to take.
Call 248-649-1160 or use our
online contact form to schedule an appointment.
