Waukegan Paternity Lawyer

Determining Paternity Can Help Protect Parents and Children

For parents and children, establishing legal parentage can be an important step. In Illinois, parentage can be established through a properly completed Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage or a court proceeding. Legal parentage can provide a basis for discussion of such things as child support, parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and other major issues involving the child.

When Paternity is Contested

Some parentage cases aren’t clear cut. The parent may not know if they are the biological parent of the child, one party may not want to admit to being a parent, or there may be a dispute about who should be legally recognized as a parent. In the event of a dispute, the court shall consider genetic testing and other evidence before arriving at a determination. If there is any uncertainty, it is important to understand the consequences before signing a parentage document because signing a parentage document can create significant legal rights and responsibilities.

Waukegan Paternity Case Assistance

At O’Flaherty Law, we assist Waukegan families with parentage matters by taking a practical approach focused on your situation and goals. If you are trying to prove parentage, contest a parentage case, challenge an acknowledgment that was signed before or have related child support or parenting issues, our attorneys can explain your options and help you decide what to do next. We strive to resolve disputes in an efficient manner where appropriate, but are ready to litigate on behalf of our clients where disagreements require court intervention.