When you are involved in a disagreement over the paternity of a minor child, you want an experienced lawyer to protect your interests. Without proper legal guidance, you may unwittingly relinquish your rights or make it far more difficult to get the outcome you seek.
At the law office of Terzich & Ort, LLP, we bring years of experience to men and women involved in paternity disagreements. Both of our lawyers have been designated “Rising Stars” by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine (each having earned this designation every year since 2006), and attorney Jodi M. Terzich was named a 2009 “Super Lawyer” by the publication. We built our reputation through a commitment to personal service and attention, providing prompt and courteous service, and high-quality legal representation at reasonable rates. Call our Maple Grove office at 763-391-7354 to set up a consultation.
A paternity action is designed to establish a legal determination of fatherhood in situations where the purported parents of a child have never been married. Either parent can allege or deny paternity. A parent who has signed recognition of parentage (ROP) may proceed to a custody action, a visitation action, or a child support action. If no ROP has been signed, the parent seeking paternity and the parental rights that come with it (support or visitation) must file a court action to establish paternity.
At Terzich & Ort, LLP, we will handle all matters related to a paternity action, preparing and filing any documents required by the court and acting as your advocate in all meetings or hearings in the district court. If paternity is contested, we will help you through the process of submitting to DNA testing. You can submit voluntarily to DNA testing, or the court will mandate testing, if necessary. More information about DNA testing can be found at the Memorial Blood Center Website.
Once paternity is established, the parents have a right to seek an order from the court establishing child support, creating visitation rights and determining custody. In these circumstances, we will work with you to establish custody and parenting schedules that are in the best interests of your minor child and that fully protect your rights as a parent. We will also review any proposed child support order for compliance with Minnesota guidelines and to verify that all relevant income is included in the calculation.
To schedule an appointment, contact us or call us at 763-391-7354. You can also email us to make your appointment. We maintain traditional office hours and are available to meet with clients evenings, if the need arises. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
A paternity case is a legal action designed to establish a legal determination of fatherhood in situations where the parents of a child were never married. Either the mother or the alleged father can initiate or respond to a paternity action. If parents were unmarried at the time of birth, establishing legal paternity is required before either parent can formally establish custody, parenting time (visitation), or child support.
A Recognition of Parentage (ROP) is a form that both unmarried parents can sign voluntarily to legally establish that the man is the biological father of the child. If an ROP has already been signed, you do not need to file a full paternity case to establish fatherhood; instead, you can proceed directly to a custody, parenting time, or child support action. If no ROP was signed, a court action is necessary to legally establish paternity.
If either parent denies or questions paternity, the case will involve DNA testing. You and the other parent can submit to genetic testing voluntarily. If one party refuses, the court can mandate DNA testing. Our team routinely guides clients through this process, which often involves testing through trusted facilities like the Memorial Blood Center.
Establishing legal paternity is the first step. Once fatherhood is legally determined, both parents gain the right to seek legal orders regarding:
Child support is calculated based on specific Minnesota guidelines. At Terzich & Ort, LLP, we review proposed child support orders closely to verify that all relevant income is accurately included, ensuring the calculation adheres strictly to state guidelines and fully protects your financial rights and your child’s needs.
Paternity disputes can involve complex legal rights and strict state guidelines. Without experienced legal guidance, you might accidentally give up important rights or make it significantly harder to achieve the outcome you want regarding your children. An experienced attorney protects your parental rights and helps establish fair custody, visitation, and support terms.
You can contact Terzich & Ort, LLP by calling our Maple Grove office at 763-391-7354 or by emailing us directly through our online contact form. We offer high-quality legal representation at reasonable rates, maintain traditional business hours, and offer evening consultations as needed. We accept major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
