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Enforcing Your Right To A Relationship With Your Child

Long gone are the days when a father attempted to shirk responsibility for a child born out of wedlock, as many fathers today welcome the opportunity to be a part of their child’s life. They want to have a say in important decisions regarding child-rearing, spend time with their offspring and provide the necessary financial support. Fortunately, state laws favor an arrangement that enables a child to have a relationship with both parents, so fathers’ rights are supported in New Jersey.

Our lawyers at Giro & Associates LLC are dedicated to ensuring the protection of your legal rights as a father. We have been serving clients in Bergen County and throughout the surrounding area since 2006, so our attorneys are knowledgeable in the laws establishing fathers’ rights. At the same time, our legal team has the compassion necessary to understand how many of these issues are quite personal in nature.

Establishing Paternity

If you were not married to the child’s mother, you must first establish paternity of the child for your rights as a father to apply. There are two ways to do so:

  • Certificate of parentage or voluntary acknowledgment: When a child’s parents agree to the father’s identity, they can execute an official New Jersey form indicating their acknowledgment of paternity. The document must be notarized and then filed with the New Jersey Department of Health.
  • Paternity action: If the parents do not agree to paternity, either one of them may file a court case to determine legal paternity. You do have the right as a father to initiate this type of lawsuit, even though this litigation is typically associated with a mother seeking paternity for child support purposes. After filing a petition, you present evidence to support your claims, usually in the form of genetic testing. The court will enter an order establishing paternity if you meet your level of proof.

Get A Skilled Lawyer On Your Side

Whether you need help establishing yourself or someone else as the father of your child, let our team handle the process for you. We are ready to represent your needs with compassion and respect, and we are only a phone call away.

For more information on paternity matters and fathers’ rights laws, please contact Giro & Associates LLC by calling 201-771-9436 or completing our online form. We can set up a consultation at our River Edge office to discuss your circumstances and legal options as a father.