When parents weren't married at a child's birth, parentage usually must be legally established before custody, visitation or child support orders can be made. Either parent can use our Establishing Paternity package — which can also address custody, visitation, support, the child's name, and birth-related expenses — all prepared at your direction.
Until parentage is legally established, courts generally can't order child support, custody or visitation — and the child's rights to financial support, inheritance and other benefits through the father aren't in place.
When unmarried parents can't agree about parentage, the court may order genetic testing. Our packages are for uncontested matters; if you want to contest a petition, free attorney referrals are available.
If no response is filed within 30 days, the court may make orders on support, custody and visitation based solely on the petition's requests — without your input.
