Establish Paternity in Brockton - Legal Guidance
Legal Paternity Services in Brockton, MA and Surrounding Counties
Paternity is equated with fatherhood, which includes all legal rights and responsibilities intrinsic to becoming a father. When you establish paternity in Massachusetts, you identify a child’s legal father, which can help a family gain access to important information such as medical history, health and life insurance, financial support, and more. For the mother, an establishment of paternity provides her with support, including child support, visitation, and custody rights, and a say regarding legal decisions that may impact the child’s life.
At Brockton Divorce Lawyer, our Brockton paternity attorneys are highly esteemed professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience helping families navigate paternity cases with discretion, professionalism, and ease. Contact us online or call us at 508-979-0555.
Voluntary and Court-Ordered Paternity Acknowledgment in Massachusetts
Massachusetts law assumes a child born in wedlock is the child of the parents. However, when a child is born out of wedlock, paternity must be established either voluntarily or through a court order. A mother and an alleged father can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form under oath, which asserts that the man signing the document is the child’s legitimate father.
This acknowledgment is finalized 60 days after it has been signed and cannot be revoked after the 60-day mark. If either parent would like to revoke the paternity acknowledgment in Massachusetts, he/she must prove fraud or a means of coercion.
Five Legal Methods to Establish Paternity in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, there are 5 ways to legally establish paternity:
Marriage: If a couple is legally married when a child is born, the husband is considered the father of the child and no additional actions need to be taken to establish paternity.
Acknowledgement of Paternity: An unmarried couple can complete a legal document denoting paternity after a child is born. This can be done in the hospital or later.
Court Order: Paternity may need to be established by a judge if fatherhood is disputed. A judge may require DNA testing to prove parentage.
Administrative Order by Means of Genetic Testing: A genetic test or DNA test determines the biological father of the child. Once proven, an administrative order can be issued establishing parentage.
Legitimation: To legitimize paternity after an unmarried couple has a child and later gets married, to add the father to the birth certificate, the parents must send the required documents to the Massachusetts Office of Vital Statistics.
Who Can Request Paternity?
For those individuals looking to establish paternity, Massachusetts law deems the following scenarios permissible:
A government agency looking to establish child support
A man who believes he is the father or who is known to be the alleged father
A child’s mother who wants to determine the legitimate father of her child
The Massachusetts Department of Child Support Services requests it
A child requests paternity through a legal representative
Understanding Massachusetts's Paternity Statute of Limitations
In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for filing a paternity action is until the child reaches the age of majority. However, it would behoove you to establish paternity as soon as possible for your child to develop a relationship with each parent.
Schedule Your Paternity Consultation in Brockton
Establishing paternity can be a complex and sensitive matter. As such, it is imperative to refer to the counsel and guidance of an experienced attorney from our firm. Whether you are involved in a paternity dispute, need to establish paternity, or refute a paternity claim, contact our office.
Reach out online or call Brockton Divorce Lawyer at 508-979-0555 to book a confidential appointment. Hablamos español.