Kansas City Paternity Lawyer

Establishing Paternity & Fathers' Rights in Kansas City

There are many cases in which a man and a woman will have a child outside of wedlock; this situation requires that the father fill out an affidavit in order to establish paternity. Once paternity is established, the father may be able to pursue rights to visitation or custody through a court petition for paternity rights. In addition, he may be required to make support payments in order to cover various costs of raising the child. There are some cases in which a mother may dispute the validity of the father's claims, which will result in the filing of a paternity suit in court.

Need an attorney for a paternity case in Kansas City? If you are the father trying to protect your right to develop a relationship with your child, then you need to understand the process of establishing paternity and pursuing fathers' rights in Kansas City. In order to legally set up visitation, custody, or child support payments, you must first be able to prove that you are the legal biological father of the child. Not only does paternity help establish your rights as a father but it also gives certain rights to the child. Paternity tests are also conducted to establish the responsibility and legal obligations for fathers to pay child support. If you are a mother in need of child support or a father looking to exercise his rights, then you may greatly benefit from the legal assistance of Kansas City divorce attorney. At The Reynolds Law Firm, LLC, we can work to defend your case in court and help fight for your rights.

How is paternity determined?

Paternity testing has been done since the 1920s for matters of blood typing. Over the years the tests have become more accurate, with a 90-99% success rate. Now paternity tests can help determine who the father of a child by conducting DNA tests. Paternity testing can be determined both before and after birth and there are several different methods available to you. The earliest form of testing can be done in the 10^th week of pregnancy, this is referred to as prenatal paternity testing. The most common forms of postnatal paternity testing include:

• Taking blood from the umbilical cord
• Blood collection and testing (they only take about a teaspoon of blood from the infant)
• Taking cheek swab sample with a Q-tip (otherwise known as a buccal swab)

It is typically more expensive to have prenatal paternity tests done because it is slightly more difficult and risky for the child. Postnatal paternity tests can run anywhere from $400-$1,500.

Kansas City Divorce Lawyer: Defending Your Rights in Court

Searching for an attorney for paternity in Kansas City? Our firm understands the severity of the situation that you are facing if you are pursuing your paternity rights. We have helped numerous individuals in the past obtain favorable outcomes in their cases and we can put this experience to work for you if you choose to work with us. Our divorce attorneys have more than 40 years of combined legal experience and they know what it takes to achieve positive results. We are 100% client driven and we are avid advocates for protecting parental rights. Our firm has an AV Distinguished® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and we have earned the respect of the bar, the courts and our fellow counsel. We offer an inexpensive case evaluation to get you started. Utilize this benefit and begin the process of retaining the skilled representation that you need on your side. Contact a Kansas City paternity lawyer to help you effectively achieve your goals.