If you are a divorcing father, keeping custody of your child is most likely your top priority. Child custody battles are never easy for all parties involved, and if you have been denied paternity, you most likely have an uphill battle ahead. Please continue reading and reach out to our knowledgeable Bergen County divorce attorneys to learn more about what we can do for you.
What are Fathers’ Rights?
If your paternity is coming into question, you are most likely concerned about what your rights are as a father in New Jersey. Under most circumstances, fathers will automatically be granted paternity by New Jersey courts, though in certain situations, you will be required to prove that you are the child’s father before you are awarded child custody. That being said, you do not have to be a child’s biological father to obtain child custody. If you can show that you were married to the child’s mother 10 months before your child was born, or that you were married to the child’s mother when the child was born, OR if you have signed a Certificate of Parentage when your child was born, you should most likely be granted paternity. That being said, New Jersey courts have wrongfully denied fathers their paternal rights before, and if you believe this has happened to you, you may file a paternity suit.
What is a paternity suit?
In a paternity suit, or a paternity action, you will have to prove to the New Jersey Family Court that you are lawfully that child’s parent. These cases will be filed in front of a judge, and from here, your attorney must prove that you do have legal parental status. This is not always easy, which is why you will need an experienced Bergen County family law attorney on your side who can gather and present all the evidence needed to prove it. Our firm has been helping individuals in similar situations to yours for years, which is why we know we have what it takes to represent you, too. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you through the legal process ahead.
Contact our experienced Bergen County firm
At Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, our attorneys have extensive experience helping clients to understand and protect their legal rights before, during, and after the divorce process in towns across New Jersey and Bergen County, including Hackensack, Ridgewood, Paramus, Teaneck, and Fort Lee. To speak with our team of divorce lawyers today in a free and confidential consultation regarding your concerns about your divorce, please contact us online, or through our Hackensack, NJ office at (201) 397-1750.
