Joplin Paternity Lawyer

Legal parentage is established to create legal rights and responsibilities between a father and child. Whether married or unmarried, parents have questions about how Missouri family law applies to their situation and what legal steps may be required to establish paternity. Speaking with a knowledgeable Joplin paternity lawyer is often the first step in addressing paternity matters.

Trust in Bundy for Your Paternity Needs

Bundy is a family law trial practice serving clients in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Consequently, our firm also works with clients on interstate and international family law matters.

Our Joplin family lawyers have been recognized as Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), and our managing member, Aaron Bundy, is the only Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) in Oklahoma.*

Establishing Paternity in Missouri

Once paternity has been legally established, issues such as child custody, parenting time, child support, and decision-making rights may be determined by the court. Paternity creates the legal relationship between a father and child. Paternity may be established in Missouri by the actions listed below:

• Consent of both parents through a voluntary acknowledgment.
• Court order determining legal parentage.
• Genetic testing to determine paternity.

Missouri has a marriage rate of 5.7 and a divorce rate of 2.6 per 1,000, according to the CDC. Furthermore, unmarried mothers gave birth to 38.8% of live births. This emphasizes how crucial it is to legally establish paternity.

Understanding Missouri Paternity Laws

Missouri paternity law contains rules that establish when a man is presumed to be the father of a child and when and how evidence can be admitted to establish or refute paternity. These legal presumptions include marriage or an Acknowledgment of Paternity.

If paternity is contested, Missouri Revised Statutes § 210.834 allows the court to order genetic tests to determine who is the parent of the child. Missouri courts usually admit genetic testing results into evidence during a paternity proceeding. To admit other evidence, the court has broad discretion to consider any other evidence that is legally admissible under the circumstances. Since each case is unique, the court looks at the individual case and applies the law accordingly.

The Importance of Establishing Paternity

Once paternity is established, the parents and child benefit from having legal certainty over who the child’s legal parents are. The child may be able to access benefits from their father, such as inheritance, insurance benefits, military benefits, and medical history, which can be important throughout their life.

Establishing paternity can give fathers the legal standing to ask the court for custody or parenting time. Establishing paternity can give mothers the legal footing to ask the court for child support where appropriate. Establishing paternity allows both parents to have set legal rights and responsibilities for the care and future of the child.

Establishing paternity can also become important for families who have more complex finances than most. Businesses, trusts, investment accounts, stock options, and executive compensation can be impacted if a child’s legal parents pass away.

Why You May Need to Hire a Paternity Lawyer With Experience in Joplin

When you make the decision to hire a paternity lawyer in Joplin, you usually need to file a petition with the court. However, paternity cases can also involve statutory requirements for filing certain paperwork with the court, service of process requirements, DNA testing timelines, admissibility of evidence, and court deadlines. Your Joplin paternity attorney can perform the services listed below:

• Help analyze your legal issues.
• Prepare and file pleadings with the court.
• Arrange for genetic testing if the court orders testing.
• Gather evidence to support your claim.
• File responses to motions your ex may file.
• Negotiate custody or support agreements.
• Represent you at hearings.

Legal counsel can also assist in coordinating the additional legal and financial factors that may emerge when paternity disputes involve interstate difficulties, business ownership, trusts, or other complicated financial matters. If you live in Joplin, paternity cases are usually filed in and heard by the Jasper County Circuit Court, which is located at 302 S Main Street, Joplin, MO 64836.

FAQs

What Rights Does an Unmarried Father Have in Missouri?

Unmarried fathers do not automatically gain legal rights as fathers just because they had a child. After paternity is established, an unmarried father can ask the court for custody, parenting time, and/or joint decision-making. Courts consider these requests in light of what is in the child’s best interests and the facts of the situation.

Do Fathers Get Paid Paternity Leave in Missouri?

There is no statewide paid paternity leave law that covers private employers in Missouri. Eligibility for paid leave is typically determined by an employer’s policies, an employment contract, or benefits offered by the workplace. Fathers may be able to take unpaid leave through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if they are eligible.

Can a Father Establish Paternity Without the Mother?

Yes, a father can establish paternity without the mother under certain conditions. A father can bring a court action requesting that the court declare him to be the legal father even if the mother does not sign an acknowledgment of paternity. The court may order genetic testing and consider any other evidence before making a determination of legal parentage.

Is There a Time Limit for Establishing Paternity in Joplin, Missouri?

Time limits for establishing paternity in Joplin, Missouri, vary depending on the facts of your case and the legal issues presented. Some petitions to establish or adjudicate paternity are subject to the statutes of limitations in Missouri Revised Statutes § 210.828. Others are not. Due to these variables, it is critical that you review the facts of your case prior to completing a paternity petition.

Choose an Experienced Joplin Paternity Attorney at Bundy

Establishing paternity gives fathers both legal rights and responsibilities for their children under the law. At Bundy, we can help you take the necessary steps to rectify your paternity questions and concerns. Contact us to schedule a consultation as soon as possible to take the first steps in establishing paternity.

*Awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization.