Why is it important to establish paternity in San Diego? Establishing paternity is the first step in securing important rights for an unmarried father in California regarding child custody and parenting time for their child.
Here in California, the law presumes the identity of the father to be the married husband of the mother or when a man and woman have lived together with their child in a family-like manner and the man has established important legal demonstrations of his commitment to the child. The Court may also presume a child born to registered domestic partners to be the legal child of those parents. This may still be challenged and questioned in a Court of Law.
It is important to establish paternity in San Diego in order to obtain a Court ordered declaration that a man is the legal father of a child prior to seeking child custody and parenting time rights. When the case is brought to Court the Judge has the legal authority to order genetic testing of the father, baby and mother.
Another reason it is important to establish paternity in San Diego is to prevent the mother from either denying access to the child, or simply taking a child and moving out of the area or out of the State of California. The unmarried mother of a child usually has all legal rights regarding child custody and parenting time decisions. She is free to control access to the child and move as she pleases unless and until paternity is legally established and child custody and parenting time orders are issued by the Court.
If you are an unmarried father and wish to protect all of your rights to care for, support, visit and make important decisions regarding the life and welfare of your child it is important to establish paternity in San Diego Family Court. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of former clients and the legal industry and contact the Certified Family Law Specialists at Burke & Domercq or call 760-389-3927 to schedule an appointment for a remote or socially distanced consultation with one of our experienced Certified Family Law Specialists.