Family Lawyer: Paternity in Jackson, Mississippi

If you live in  Mississippi, and have questions about paternity rights or the process you’ll need to establish paternity, consider speaking to the Law Offices of Malouf & Malouf, PLLC, a divorce and family lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi today. Paternity is the legal process by which a child’s father is legally acknowledged in official documents, including birth certificates and records. Establishing paternity is important for many reasons. Paternity gives the father parental rights to his child. Paternity also gives the mother the ability to seek child support from the child’s father. Paternity can also have important psychological implications when it comes to the life of a child. It is well established that it is psychologically important for a child to have a relationship with both parents. When a child knows who his father is, he or she has a clearer sense of identity and self worth. Furthermore, knowing who your biological parents are can be important when it comes to medical records and medical histories. If you need to establish paternity in  Mississippi, there may be several ways to go about doing this. If you are married, the state will automatically grant paternity to your husband. However, sometimes matters of paternity are not so clear-cut. If you are not married to the father of your child, for instance, or if you are not married to the mother of your child, paternity may need to be established in other ways. Malouf & Malouf, are paternity lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi who may be able to help. How to Establish Paternity When the Child’s Parents are Not Married in Mississippi In Mississippi, it is not enough for a child’s father to sign a birth certificate to establish paternity, when the child’s parents are not married. In order for paternity to be officially established,  the mother, the child, or the father must file a complaint in court to establish paternity. Sometimes both parents agree  who the biological father is, and sometimes both parents do not agree. If the father doesn’t believe he is the biological father, DNA testing may be ordered. A court case can be held to determine who the child’s father might be, either through testimony and other evidence, including DNA evidence. Sometimes a woman is pregnant and the father of the child is not her husband. This can also raise complexities with paternity and divorce because Mississippi presumes  that the husband of the woman giving birth is the biological father of the child. In order to show that the husband is not the biological father, DNA testing might be required. Getting divorced will not be sufficient to resolve the situation. So, a divorce case where the woman is pregnant with another man’s child,  the current husband will face complex issues  because the courts will assume that the child is the husband’s offspring, until other evidence is brought forth. Paternity issues can sometimes get complicated and often involve the courts. If you need to petition the court where paternity is being contested, or if a person is claiming that you have fathered her child, then you may want to take steps to protect your rights. Malouf & Malouf are paternity and divorce lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi who may be able to help you. What Rights Does Paternity Give the Father? In cases of domestic violence and abuse, sometimes women are concerned about establishing paternity because they are afraid of granting parental rights to the child’s father. If this describes your situation, you may want to speak to Malouf & Malouf, family lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi. Establishment of paternity would generally be followed by both parents making a parenting plan for visitation rights. If you are concerned about your child’s safety, you may be able to take steps to protect your children while also establishing paternity. For example, establishment of paternity can also be accompanied by a restraining order against the child’s father or restricted visitation rights. What rights does paternity grant both parents? Most importantly, the establishment of paternity allows the mother to seek child support from the child’s biological father. Both parents have an obligation in Mississippi to financially support their children. If your child’s biological father is not paying to support your child or children, you  have the right to seek child support, but paternity must be established first. Paternity also grants important rights to the father. Paternity gives the father the right to  visit with the child and also the right to make decisions regarding his child’s life. If you are a father and have questions about paternity, Malouf & Malouf, family lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi may be able to help you. USAttorneys.com can connect you with Malouf & Malouf, family lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi today.