Baltimore, MD Paternity Lawyers

Attorneys Helping Parents Establish Paternity of Children in Baltimore, Maryland

In family law cases involving children, parents may need to address a variety of issues related to child custody and visitation. These cases will also usually involve child support orders, which can help ensure that both parents are contributing to their children's needs. However, there are some cases where paternity may need to be established before these issues can be addressed.

Disputes related to paternity may arise when parents disagree about the identity of a child's father. A mother may try to obtain child support from the father of her child, but he may claim that he is not the child's biological parent. A father may want to enforce his parental rights, but the mother may claim that he is not the child's parent. After taking steps to address concerns related to paternity, parents or other parties involved in a family law case can work to resolve issues related to child custody and child support.

At Silverman Thompson, our family law attorneys understand the role that paternity plays in child custody cases. We can help clients establish or contest paternity while making sure their rights are protected and working to put solutions in place that will provide for the best interests of children.

Establishment of Paternity

If you believe you are the father of a child but are not included on the child's birth certificate or did not sign an affidavit of parentage, you can file a petition to establish paternity to determine if you will be legally recognized as the child's father.

Paternity can be established in three ways:

• By Marital Presumption: If the mother is married at the time of a child's conception or birth, Maryland law presumes that the mother's husband is the father of the child.
• By Affidavit of Parentage: If the mother is not married when a child is born, both parents can sign an affidavit of parentage to establish paternity.
• By Judicial Declaration: If the mother is not married when a child is born, and both parents do not sign an affidavit of parentage, paternity can be established by a court order. This process generally involves genetic testing, unless the father affirms under oath that he is the child's father and the mother agrees.

Disestablishment of Paternity

Parents have a legal obligation to support their minor children, but a father may argue that he is not required to provide child support because he is not a child's biological parent. When child support is requested, a father may take steps to disestablish paternity.

Depending on how paternity was established, if you are served with a request for child support, and you do not believe you are the father of the child, you may be able to file a petition to disestablish paternity. You can ask the court to declare that you are not the child's father, thereby relieving you of an obligation to pay child support.

Meet Our Family Law Team

The team of family law attorneys at Silverman Thompson works to ensure that our clients can resolve paternity matters and other types of cases successfully. We are ready to provide representation in court and advocate for our clients' rights and interests. With our extensive experience handling these types of cases and representing clients in litigation, we can help clients achieve solutions that will meet their needs.

Monica Scherer serves as the leader of our team of family law attorneys. She has vast experience in domestic and family law matters, and she has been recognized as a leading family, divorce, and custody attorney in Maryland.

Nathan Volke has nearly 15 years of experience assisting with family law matters. He takes a compassionate approach to representing clients with an understanding of the importance of effective legal support and guidance in divorce, child custody, and other family law cases.

Rian Wieser has experience representing survivors of sexual assault as an attorney who worked for the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She brings a strong understanding of these issues to family law cases, and she advocates for solutions that will help clients resolve their legal concerns effectively.

Erin Brooks has experience in family law, and she has also obtained a master's degree after studying social work. This provides her with the skills and perspective needed to address the issues families face in cases involving divorce, child custody, child support, and paternity.

Contact Our Baltimore Paternity Attorneys

If you need to establish paternity for your child and address issues related to child custody and child support, or if you are contesting a claim of paternity, the attorneys at Silverman Thompson can advocate for you and help you resolve these issues successfully. Contact our Baltimore, MD paternity establishment lawyers at 410-385-2225 to arrange a consultation.