So, you got served with paternity papers and you have no idea what to do next. You’re afraid, feel guilty, and a knot has formed in the pit of your stomach as you try to figure out what your next steps will be as you navigate the murky waters of possibly having a child out there in the world. You have no idea what to do once those papers are served, which is what brought you to us. At Lopez & Wilmert, LLP, we’re able to assist you in establishing your parental rights or figuring out what the next steps for you need to be. As a family law firm, we are familiar with paternity cases and working with other family issues. If you’re looking for a family lawyer who will meet your needs, reach out to Lopez & Wilmert LLP. If you’re interested in learning more about child custody, read What To Know About Child Custody and The Basics About Child Support. If you’re interested in fighting for custody of a child as an unmarried father read What Are The Rights Of An Unmarried Father In California? and What You Need To Know Going Into A Child Custody Battle.
What To Do When You Are Served With A Paternity Case?
So, you’ve been served with a paternity case; what do you do now? When you are first given the papers detailing the paternity case, it was probably a shock. You didn’t know how to react and your brain is moving a million miles a minute. Slow down, try to relax, and read the papers that are probably thrown on your table. Before you fully freak out, take a moment to really read over the papers to figure out what exactly is going on. The papers should detail a summons, a Complaint to Establish Paternity, and a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage. In addition, you could also see a temporary custody order, parenting time, or visitation rights. Furthermore, the summons will detail the amount of time you have before you need to answer the Complaint. Now that you’ve read through the papers, you’ll notice the Complaint also tells you the person who filed the case, why they filed the case, why they think you are the child’s father, and what exactly the person wants from you. The Complaint will also detail if the person who filed the Complaint will want custody, visitation, or parenting time between you and the child. Keep in mind, you can tell if the person has a lawyer because there is only one signature. Lastly, you need to look to see if there is a motion for the form. If there is a motion and a proposed order, you’ll know because a time and a date will be on the Complaint to tell you when a hearing for the motion will take place.
Now that you understand what the Complaint means, it’s time to answer. You don’t have to reply right away; it may be best to think about it for a few days. You’ll write an answer on the Complaint that can either be ‘admit’ or ‘deny’, depending on your situation. If there is a court date set up, you need to take your answer to the Clerk’s office or you can mail your answer.
Being a parent is a time consuming job and can be scary, especially when you’re served with papers. If you have found yourself served with a parental case, take the time to learn more about our paternity services.