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Establishing paternity in Colorado can be tricky, especially if the paternity you are trying to prove will make someone financially responsible for a child he doesn’t live with or has never met.  But not all paternity cases in Colorado are about collecting child support.  In some cases, men want to protect their parental rights when they haven’t been clearly established at the time of their child’s birth.  With so many more couples cohabitating, even parents who get along well will want to establish paternity.  This way, a separation won’t adversely impact the life of their child.  Whatever your reason for establishing paternity in Colorado, a Colorado Springs paternity attorney move the process forward.  An attorney can also help if you have received a summons for paternity and are not sure how to respond.

In cases where a parent wishes to establish paternity, it is a good idea to take care of this early on.  Not only does it cement the father’s bond to his child, it gives him the legal rights he may need in to future, and it gives a child the certainty of knowing who both of his or her parents are.  In addition, establishing paternity also gives the parent with primary caretaking/residential responsibility the ability to collect child support in the event of a separation. 

According to the Uniform Parentage Act in Colorado, either parent can file a petition to establish paternity.  When the family court is able to establish the father as the child’s biological parent, it will issue the appropriate orders pertaining to his financial responsibilities and parenting rights.  In many cases, genetic testing is also required, especially when the father’s name is not on the birth certificate. 

While paternity may seem like a complicated subject, it really depends on the circumstances.  Of course, it is always much easier when the father steps forward and acknowledges paternity.  In cases like these, the parties can voluntarily execute an Acknowledgement of Paternity, which is legally binding after 60 days.  However, when a case has more complications it makes sense to consult with a Colorado Springs paternity attorney who has experience with these matters.

If you have been served with a paternity summons, or you are about to file a petition for establishing paternity in Colorado, contact Pat Marrison, a Colorado Springs family lawyer, for a consultation

Patricia Marrison is a Family Law attorney in Colorado Springs, CO. and the owner of the Marrison Family Law LLC, Colorado Springs largest Family Law practice.  The Marrison Family Law LLC is devoted to assisting with the difficulties of the breakup of relationships, be it common law marriage, a non-marriage with children, or dissolution with or without children. We attempt to serve the entire spectrum of relationships, from those couples with the simplest, uncontested dissolution to the highly conflicted relationship involving allegations of domestic abuse.