Redondo Beach Paternity Lawyer

Paternity Attorney in Redondo Beach, CA

Establishing paternity can help both parents provide for and protect their child. With the establishment of paternity, a father gains both the responsibilities and the rights of a parent, which is important when deciding family law matters such as child custody or child support. If you are looking to establish paternity, a Redondo Beach paternity lawyer can help.

Rombro & Manley LLP: Work With a Dedicated Law Firm

At Rombro & Manley LLP, our attorneys are Board-Certified Specialists in Family Law with more than 40 years of experience. We understand how important it is for many families to establish paternity, whether for legal reasons or to confirm existing family ties. The Redondo Beach family lawyers at our dedicated law firm can help you understand the relevant paternity laws and legal procedures involved in the paternity process.

Understanding Paternity Cases in Redondo Beach

Paternity cases involve establishing an individual as the legal parent of a child. These cases often come up when a child is born to unmarried parents. Nationally, about 40% of children are born to unmarried parents. However, paternity cases may also arise for other reasons, such as disputing presumed paternity.

Paternity can be established through many methods. Often, parents sign a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage when a child is born, which eliminates the need for a paternity case through the court. When cases go to court in Redondo Beach, a judge at the Torrance Courthouse on 825 Maple Ave in Torrance can order a genetic test to determine paternity.

Why Establishing Paternity Matters

Paternity is essential for many family law issues. Some of the common cases that occur after paternity has been established include:

• Child custody. Only the legal parents of a child are able to have custody, unless otherwise determined by the court. By establishing paternity, you can pursue custody of your child or build a parenting plan to split custody with the child’s other parent. Establishing paternity can give you the right to pursue both physical and legal custody.
• Visitation. Paternity must also be established to gain visitation rights. Visitation is important for both a father and the child, helping build a parental bond. In many cases, a visitation schedule is built into the parenting time plan alongside the custody schedule.
• Child support. Child support fulfills a parent’s obligation to financially support their child. Often, child support orders are established so the parent with less parenting time provides child support. Establishing paternity can allow you to create these orders, helping you to fulfill your child’s needs. In 2023, 4 million parents received cash child support payments.
• Inheritance and financial benefits. Having legal paternity can streamline the inheritance process. It can also allow the child to receive Social Security or veterans benefits from their father.

Establishing paternity is not only important for future family law issues. Legal paternity may help a child and father bond, allow a child to connect with extended family, or give them access to valuable medical history.

When You Should Hire a Paternity Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA

A Redondo Beach paternity lawyer can help you file a paternity case to establish your child’s father’s paternity, or they can help you respond to a paternity case. Working with a lawyer early in this process can be beneficial, as they can protect your rights throughout the legal process and can guide you through any conflicts that may arise.

If you hire a paternity lawyer, they can gather evidence that can be used to support your case. Often, this includes DNA testing and medical records if the case involves genetic or biological evidence. Working with a Redondo Beach paternity attorney is especially important in complex cases, as there are unique paternity laws involved. This includes cases involving challenging presumed paternity or arguing that genetic testing was flawed or invalid.

FAQs About Redondo Beach, CA Paternity Laws

Do Fathers Get Paid Paternity Leave in California?

Yes, there is paid paternity leave through California’s paid family leave (PFL) benefits. There are eligibility requirements, such as having a new child born in the past 12 months, paying into the California State Disability Insurance in the past five to 18 months, and not having already taken eight weeks of PFL in the last year. Establishing legal paternity is an important step to be eligible for PFL.

Does a Father Have 50/50 Rights?

Fathers in California have the same rights as mothers. However, this does not automatically mean that there is going to be a 50/50 custody split. Both parents have an equal responsibility to provide for their child, but the court may determine that an unequal custody split is in the child’s best interests. In this case, the non-custodial parent must fulfill their rights and responsibilities as a parent in other ways, such as paying child support.

How Long Does a Father Have to Establish Paternity in California?

There is no deadline for establishing paternity in California, though establishing paternity early can provide more benefits. Having paternity established earlier can allow a father to be more involved in raising the child, whether through child support, child custody, or visitations. Because of this, many unmarried parents sign a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage at the time of the child’s birth. However, a paternity case can be filed later in the child’s life.

What Is the Third Parent Law in California?

The 3rd parent law allows more than two legal parents to be recognized for a single child. A judge has the discretion to use this law if having three or more legal parents is in the child’s best interests, or it would cause harm to the child to only have two legal parents. To decide this, the court often looks at the existing care system and the emotional bonds the child has with their parents.

Reach Out to a Redondo Beach Paternity Attorney Today

Establishing paternity is an important step for both the parents and the child. Whether you are looking to create a child custody arrangement or are simply looking to strengthen the connection between you and your child, contact Rombro & Manley LLP. Our skilled attorneys can help you navigate this case with ease, helping fathers gain the rights and responsibilities that paternity brings.