Chicago, Illinois Paternity Attorneys

Why Do I Need a Chicago Paternity Lawyer?

If you need to establish paternity, the law office of Anderson & Associates, P.C. can help. With a professional legacy spanning three decades, our firm has successfully handled numerous paternity cases for our clients. We handle a wide range of issues that impact children such as adoption, child custody and child support. We work to provide the best possible scenario for children who are displaced due to orders of protection and other family issues.

What is Parentage?

Parentage is the direct biological connection of father and child. Parentage is the term used by Illinois statutes, but it is the same as paternity.

Establishing Paternity

Our attorneys represent anyone who seeks to establish paternity – mothers, fathers, and grandparents are frequent requestors. Child welfare is at the heart of the matter. In addition to financial support, paternity helps a child form his or her identity. Knowing where you come from and who you belong to helps create a foundation. When a father is legally identified, we can help obtain the financial support needed to raise a child. In addition, knowing the family history of both parents provides a complete picture for health care concerns and issues the child may experience.

There are two ways to establish parentage:

• DNA testing – simple, affordable and accurate testing options are available
• Voluntary admission – signing a legal form to claim paternity

Our firm will guide you through your parentage case and provide sound counsel on the legal outcomes for paternity testing and voluntary admission. Once paternity has been established, parental rights are protected by law. If a father chooses to sign a form stating he is the father of a child, there is a time-sensitive window to rescind that admission. Before signing any form, confer with our attorneys to make sure it is in your best interest to do so.

Protecting Parental Rights

The establishment of paternity impacts parental rights and should be taken seriously. For example, identified fathers have influence in issues of child adoption and removal. Even if legal paternity has not been established, fathers who register with the Illinois Putative Father Registry will be notified about pending adoption actions. Once registered, fathers have 30 days to file for a paternity action or they may lose their rights to contest an adoption.

There is much at stake on both sides of the family and we specialize in helping our clients through paternity matters. We facilitate an environment of understanding and seek amicable, definitive solutions for families in need.

For assistance with paternity or parentage matters, contact us to schedule a free consultation. From our Chicago Office and three regional offices, we represent clients through the Chicago area including Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, and beyond.