Paternity

Helping you Establish the Paternity of Your Child

If you are seeking custody or child support, you need the court to establish paternity legally. Many people do not mind paying child support for their children; they just want to be sure the children are biologically theirs. At Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C., we represent parents who are petitioning the court to establish paternity in the St. Louis area.

We will assist you whether you are:

• attempting to establish that you are the father of a child, or
• attempting to establish that you are not the father of a child, or
• attempting to establish that a certain man is the father and should help support the child.

It is crucial to get a court determination before custody or support is awarded.

• Medical Paternity Tests: The court may order a buccal swab of a person's cheek to determine paternity. These tests are extremely accurate, because the results are based on DNA analysis.
• Custody Issues: If a man is seeking physical or legal custody of your child, you may wish to petition the court to order a paternity test. The child's best interests are always the guiding principle used by the court.
• Visitation and Temporary Custody: The court can award visitation and temporary custody upon determining paternity. You can also contest these if you believe there is a lack of paternity.
• Child Support: If you are seeking child support from a party, you must first determine paternity. The court may only order an individual to pay child support if they are the father or mother of that child.

Issues surrounding paternity

The court will look at DNA to determine paternity, unless there is no dispute as to paternity. The petition for paternity needs to be filed in the county where the child is living.

Many times there is not an actual fight about who is the father, just who is going to have custody and support.

Call or contact us today to set up an appointment with a St. Louis family law attorney.

Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C.

Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C., is a family law attorney serving St. Louis, Missouri and the surrounding areas of St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County, including Ballwin, Brentwood, Chesterfield, Clayton, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Ellisville, Kirkwood, Frontenac, Ladue, Manchester, Maplewood, Maryland Heights, Mehlville, Oakville, St. Louis, Town & Country, University City, Webster Groves, and Richmond Heights.