Why Paternity Matters

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Why Paternity Matters

If you have a child with someone else and you are not married, it is important to establish paternity. You might be wondering why the legal details matter, especially if both you and the other parent know and understand who the father is. Paternity is actually a very important determination and one that has long-lasting effects for everyone involved in the situation.

  • You and the other parent might be in agreement right now about everything, but something could happen and you could break up or no longer trust each other. If that happens, both of your rights will be up in the air. For the father, there can be no visitation or custody unless and until paternity is determined. For the mother, a custody order also requires established paternity. Neither party can collect child support unless paternity is first determined.
  • Paternity matters to your child. Being officially claimed by the father can mean a lot to a child. Having a birth certificate with both parents’ names on it is proof that Mom and Dad were there and cared. If paternity is never made official, a child can become a teenager who wonders if Dad is not really committed to the situation. An emotional connection can be bolstered by a legal connection.
  • Establishing paternity gives your child important rights. Unless the father is legally determined, your child cannot inherit from the father. Your child also cannot receive Social Security or veteran’s benefits through the father. Should something happen to the father, it is very difficult to establish paternity after a father has passed away.

DeTorres & DeGeorge handles paternity cases in New Jersey and is ready to help you with yours.

About DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law

DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law is a New Jersey based family law firm that has been helping New Jersey residents achieve the best possible results in their divorce for nearly 30 years. The DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law team is always ready to fight for their clients’ rights – determined to help New Jersey families overcome legal challenges from start to finish. Our legal team, with over 65 years of combined experience, provides expert guidance on all family law and divorce-related matters, including custody and parenting time, alimony and child support, equitable distribution of assets, premarital agreements, post-divorce issues, executive compensation distribution, divorces for business owners, and divorce mediation. The firm has been recognized for its dedication and expertise in the industry by multiple local and national organizations, including Super Lawyers, Law Firm 500, and the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. Rosanne DeTorres, Managing Partner, is one of 150 lawyers certified as a matrimonial law attorney.

Rosanne S. DeTorres
Ms. DeTorres is the managing partner and co-founder of DeTorres & DeGeorge Family Law. She is also only one of 150 attorneys in the State of NJ that is certified by the NJ Supreme Court as a Matrimonial Law Attorney. Ms. DeTorres graduated...
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