Establishing And Contesting Paternity In Arizona
Paternity issues are very important to resolve in Arizona. Some parents want to establish paternity to help define their child custody rights, while others may contest paternity as it pertains to child support obligations. Paternity determinations are often very important when looking at fathers’ rights, as they want to protect their relationship with their child moving forward.
Here at Benavidez Law Group, P.C., our experienced team of Tucson paternity lawyers can help every step of the way. As attorneys, we are incredibly focused on our clients. When you call us, you can talk to a real person immediately because we answer our phones and give your case the close consideration it deserves. Call now to set up an initial consultation.
Why Is Paternity Important?
A paternity order can be incredibly important when it comes to fathers’ rights and child custody rights. For example, a man who believes he is the father may need to petition for paternity after the child’s birth, seeking physical or legal custody rights. This helps to maintain the relationship between the child and their father, which can be best for both parties in many situations.
Paternity is also important from a financial perspective. A father may be ordered to pay child support to help offset some of the costs of raising the child, balancing out those obligations between the mother and father. For this reason, mothers may also be very interested in officially establishing paternity to ensure that the proper court orders are issued and these obligations and responsibilities are met.
How Is Paternity Established?
Parents can voluntarily sign an acknowledgment or paternity form, and paternity is generally assumed when the parents are married and a child is born to them jointly. But if there is any question about paternity, then a DNA test will likely be used.
This requires a paternity order from the court. The DNA test has to be taken in a lab to ensure that the results are accurate. If done correctly, these DNA tests are over 99% accurate, so they can be an effective way to determine paternity if there is any dispute between the parents.
Call For A Consultation
Whether you are worried about child custody rights, child support obligations or any other aspect of paternity, contact our firm today to set up a consultation in Arizona. You can get in touch with Benavidez Law Group, P.C., at 520-314-8954 or by using the online contact form.