Bridgewater, MA Paternity Lawyer

Serving Parents in Bridgewater & the Surrounding Communities

When a child is born to married parents, courts assume that both parents are biologically related to the child. This gives married fathers parental rights and responsibilities. Should the parents separate or divorce, the father has the right to pursue custody rights to the child while either parent has the right to seek child support, based on the circumstances of the case. Unmarried fathers and mothers do not have automatic custody or support rights without taking certain legal actions first. This is what commonly leads to paternity actions.

If you are an unmarried parent who needs legal help in establishing paternity so that you can seek or contest child support or custody rights, you can turn to the law firm of Attorney Andrew H. P. Norton. Our firm is here to provide comprehensive and well-respected legal representation in paternity, whether you are a married or unmarried father seeking to prove or disprove your paternity or a mother seeking to establish paternity as the first step in seeking child support. With more than 30 years of family law experience, our attorney is more than qualified to represent you in all court proceedings regarding this issue.

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Hear From Our Clients

I am so glad I had you on my side. I don't know what I would have done without you.
Peter M.
I cannot put into words how thankful I am that you handled my divorce case.
John D.
It scares me to think of what could have happened if you were not representing me.
Don K.
You were a godsend.
Steve B.
Thank you so much for everything you did for me and my children
Tim K.

Work with an Experienced Bridgewater Paternity Attorney

If you wish to establish or contest paternity, you can turn to Attorney Norton for competent legal help. His firm represents any party with the right to pursue this issue through the courts.

More About Paternity in Massachusetts

Establishing paternity is not only beneficial for unmarried parents in seeking child support or child custody provisions, but it is also important for the child as well. Knowing one’s parentage gives a child a sense of security and identity, gives him or her a family history, including medical history, and means that the child can receive both financial and emotional support from both parents.

Paternity can be established without a court order when a child is born to unmarried parents at the time of the child’s birth. Both parents can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage. This establishes the parentage of the father, which gives him the legal rights and privileges that a married father automatically has. By signing this document at the time of the child’s birth, it puts the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate.

Where a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage has not been signed and either unmarried parent wishes to establish the paternity of the father, a court action must follow. Other parties may also file a paternity action with the court, including a grandparent, a legal guardian, or a state agency, such as the Department of Children and Families

Book your appointment for a free initial consultation with our Bridgewater, MA paternity attorney by contacting us online or at (508) 422-0815.

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Whether you have questions or you’re ready to get started, our legal team is ready to help. Complete our form below or call us at (508) 422-0815.

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