Paternity

Massachusetts Paternity Lawyer

In many child support and child custody cases, paternity must be established before any court orders can be rendered or modified. Andrew H. P. Norton provides qualified representation to mothers (or fathers) attempting to establish paternity or fathers contesting paternity. I tailor my services to meet the specifics of each client's unique situation and case.

Genetic marker testing has become the standard way through which paternity is established. It is a painless procedure that may be invaluable to you and beneficial to your child. Establishing parentage through this procedure may have one or two affects:

• Once paternity is determined, the father then has rights to see the child. New custody orders or modifications to the standing orders must be made to reflect the new information.
• After establishing paternity, the father may then be responsible for child support. New child support orders must then be established pursuant to applicable child support guidelines so as to ensure that the child is getting the monetary support he or she needs from the obligor parent.

Is your name on the birth certificate?

The person named on the birth certificate is assumed to be the father. If this is not the correct information or you have any doubts, it is important that you take action to establish the correct parentage of the child. Failing to take appropriate action to ensure the accuracy of the birth certificate may leave the named father accountable for child support and other child-related responsibilities. If you are alleged to be the father of a child, and believe that you are not, get in touch with an attorney to determine your options.

Contact paternity lawyer Andrew H.P. Norton today to schedule a free initial consultation. During this time, you can discuss the details of your individual situation with me.