Compassionate Paternity Lawyer In Charleston, West Virginia
In West Virginia, laws do not automatically assign paternity to children born to unwed parents. Establishing legal fatherhood, or paternity, requires a formal legal process in which the court grants a man parental rights and responsibilities.
The attorneys at Lyne Ranson Law Offices, PLLC, in Charleston have helped numerous families overcome the process of establishing paternity. They understand that these cases can be highly emotional. Our attorneys can provide the compassionate yet effective legal representation you deserve.
Why Securing Legal Fatherhood Is Essential
Legal fatherhood holds great significance for everyone involved. For children, it provides an essential emotional sense of identity and access to a complete medical history. It also serves as a crucial foundation for formally establishing custody rights and financial responsibilities. Once he has been determined to be the legal father, fatherhood comes into play in several areas of family law pertinent to every family situation involving a child, including:
- Child custody: In West Virginia, individuals can file court petitions for full custody or joint legal custody of their child, which is an important decision-making role.
- Visitation: If a sole custody order has been granted, the other parent is allowed court-ordered visitation with their child. Both parents are legally responsible for meeting their child’s needs.
- Child support: It is the right and legal responsibility of each parent to provide financial support toward the child’s development. In cases that involve high assets, our knowledge can help ensure precise support calculations with detailed reviews of income sources.
In West Virginia, any party can initiate legal action to establish parentage or fatherhood. This includes the biological father, the child’s mother or the state child support enforcement agency, which can seek to establish paternity through a legal action in family law. For over four decades, our firm has guided both mothers and fathers in these cases.
Paternity Frequently Asked Questions
Here are brief answers to common inquiries our paternity attorneys receive.
How is paternity established voluntarily or through the court?
The legal establishment of paternity can happen either amicably between the two parents or through a court-ordered process. When both parents agree on paternity and are willing to sign the necessary legal documentation, this is usually done through an acknowledgment at birth – typically in hospitals – by completing the proper paperwork or going through the court system. If the parents have a paternity dispute, they can seek legal intervention to resolve the matter in court.
What role does genetic or DNA testing play?
When paternity of a child is disputed, the court will require a DNA test. A simple cheek swab can definitively determine if two people are biologically related.
Contact Our Experienced Family Law Attorneys Today
You are fighting for your family’s future. Whether you are a mother seeking financial security in child support cases or a father who wants to be actively involved in his child’s life, Lyne Ranson Law Offices, PLLC, will do everything in our power to win your case. Contact our Charleston office at 304-932-0591 or fill out the online contact form to find out how we can assist you.