Orange County Paternity Lawyer

Orange County Paternity Attorney

Many types of family law disputes unfold in the Orange County Superior Court, including paternity disputes. When a child’s paternity is called into question, a court-ordered test can firmly establish paternity. This, in turn, can help to ensure fairer court orders and provide legal protections for the child. An Orange County paternity lawyer is an invaluable asset if you are facing this type of family law case.

Representing Orange County, CA, Clients in Paternity Disputes

The attorneys at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, have more than 40 combined years of experience representing clients in the family court system. Paternity disputes can arise in various ways, and accurately establishing a child’s paternity can help to ensure fair custody and child support arrangements, ultimately benefiting the child. We can help you establish paternity or contest alleged paternity, as your case in Orange County requires.

When parents are married, when their child is born, the mother’s husband is the presumed father of the child, but when unmarried parents welcome a new child, the presumptive father must accept paternity and sign the child’s birth certificate, acknowledging their child’s paternity. Unfortunately, paternity fraud happens more often than many people realize, and it is also possible for mistakes to lead to incorrectly assigned paternity.

A 2022 study examined 1,211 men who were seeking paternity tests throughout the United States. Of these men, test results show that 11% were not the biological fathers of the children they were raising. Paternity fraud occurs when a mother knowingly and wrongly identifies a man as the father of her child, resulting in an unfair child support obligation. Paternity fraud can happen due to confusion, misinformation, or due to various external pressures.

If the paternity of your child is called into question, an Orange County paternity lawyer is an invaluable resource in this challenging situation. Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, can help on either side of this dispute. Whether you are seeking to establish your child’s paternity to ensure the child receives support from their biological father or you are an alleged father who wants certainty before committing to such an immense obligation, we can help.

Establishing Paternity in Orange County

It is possible to establish paternity in Orange County with a voluntary declaration of paternity at the child’s birth or through a court-ordered genetic test. It is possible to rescind a voluntary declaration of paternity under certain conditions, but there is a very limited time in which to do this. If you are the alleged father of the child but are uncertain, it is crucial to demand a genetic test before assuming parental responsibility for the child.

You can request a court order for a paternity test through the Family Support Division of Orange County Child Support Services. This test is usually conducted via oral swabs, and the testing facility will send the results to the court. It is possible for either the child’s biological mother or the alleged father to request a paternity test in Orange County.

Ultimately, paternity disputes can be challenging to resolve in many ways, but the certainty they can provide is invaluable compared to the stress and emotional toll that questioned paternity can take on a family. The attorneys at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, are ready to help you navigate this case, so reach out to our team today and speak with an experienced Orange County paternity lawyer to learn how we can help.

FAQs About Orange County, CA Paternity Laws

How Do I Prove Paternity Fraud in California?

To prove paternity fraud in California, you must have evidence to show the child’s biological mother knowingly and intentionally wrongly identified you as the father of her child. It’s possible for a mother to do this to seek greater child support from someone who is not the actual father of her child, to hide infidelity, or for many other reasons. An Orange County paternity lawyer can help you build this case.

What Are the Penalties for Paternity Fraud in California?

Penalties for paternity fraud in California could include civil liability for damages if the wrongly alleged father has been required to pay child support. The child’s biological mother may also face perjury charges if it is revealed that she knowingly misidentified her child’s father under oath at any time. Providing any false information to the court could also lead to contempt, which may entail fines or even incarceration.

What Is a Paternity Action?

A paternity action can be filed in the Orange County Superior Court when a child’s parents are not married. This action can establish the child’s parentage, creating a legal parent-child relationship that allows the parent to seek custody or visitation and requires the parent to pay child support. A child’s biological mother or an alleged father can file a paternity action to accurately establish a child’s true paternity.

What Is Parentage By Estoppel?

Parentage by estoppel is a court order that establishes an alleged father’s parental responsibility for a child, even if the alleged father is proven not to be the child’s biological father. The court will review whether the alleged father held the child out as their biological child, whether the alleged father received the child into their home, and other factors. This order can establish the alleged father as the legal parent, and your attorney can help you address such a case.

Why Should I Hire an Orange County Paternity Lawyer?

You should hire an Orange County paternity lawyer because this type of case can be emotionally challenging in several ways, and the outcome of the case has the potential to impact your life significantly for many years. Your attorney can help you make more informed decisions and navigate your legal proceedings efficiently.

Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, can help you navigate your legal proceedings in Orange County, whether you are trying to establish your child’s paternity to ensure they receive child support or if you must contest alleged paternity to avoid paying child support for someone else’s child. Whatever your case requires, you can expect compassionate and responsive legal counsel from our team. Contact us today and schedule a consultation with an Orange County paternity lawyer.