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In instances where the parents are not married, legal paternity may need to be established before important issues such as parenting time, decision-making authority and child support can be discussed. O’Flaherty Law can help clients through each step of the paternity process, whether through voluntary acknowledgment or the courts. We work to protect your parental rights and your child’s future with practical solutions.
Under Illinois law, paternity can be established through a court proceeding by the mother, the father, the child, or certain government agencies. In some instances, genetic testing may be ordered to determine biological parentage. Once paternity is established in court, the court can make orders on parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and other major issues. Making a paternity claim also affords the child important legal benefits such as inheritance rights, access to family medical history and possible insurance benefits.
Paternity cases can be sensitive family matters and important legal issues. O’Flaherty Law is ready to assist you if you need to establish paternity, contest an existing paternity claim or resolve a child custody or support issue after parentage has been established. We offer compassionate guidance, customized legal strategies, and responsive communication to help families move forward with confidence.
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The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.
Schedule a ConsultationLearn More About The FirmI am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team. Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys. Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us. They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates. We are here to help!

Yes. If one parent disputes paternity, either party may ask the court to determine parentage. The court can order DNA testing, and the results are commonly used to establish legal parentage.
No. Establishing paternity creates the legal parent-child relationship, but parenting time and parental responsibilities are decided separately. The court will issue those orders based on the child's best interests.
In certain situations, yes. Illinois law allows challenges to paternity under limited circumstances, such as newly discovered evidence or procedural issues. These cases have strict legal requirements and deadlines, making it important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.