Whether you are seeking to establish paternity or responding to a paternity action, our attorneys provide clear guidance and strong representation throughout the process.
Establishing paternity creates a legal parent-child relationship between a father and a child born outside of marriage. This matters enormously — for the child's access to financial support, inheritance rights, and medical history, and for the father's right to seek custody and visitation. Our paternity lawyers help both mothers and fathers navigate this process.
Voluntary acknowledgment. When both parents agree on paternity, they can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form at the hospital or later through the vital statistics office. This creates a legal presumption of paternity without court involvement.
Court order. When paternity is disputed, either parent may petition the court to establish paternity. The court can order genetic testing, and if paternity is confirmed, will enter an order establishing the legal parent-child relationship.
For children, legal paternity opens the door to financial support, health insurance coverage, Social Security and veterans' benefits, and inheritance rights. For fathers, it is the foundation of the right to seek custody and visitation. For mothers, it creates an enforceable obligation for the other parent to contribute to the child's financial support. We help clients on all sides of paternity matters understand their rights and pursue the outcome that best serves the child.
We represent clients throughout the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and surrounding areas.
Contact our attorneys today to discuss your paternity matter. We'll explain your options and help you move forward.