Colorado Father's Rights
Denver Paternity Lawyers
Colorado Paternity Law: establishing a father's rights and paternity is the critical first step in collecting Colorado child support. The Denver paternity attorneys at Watson & Associates, LLC handle many family law cases and can guide you in the process. When legal paternity is established, a child may have the right to the father's Social Security or veteran's benefits, medical coverage, pensions and inheritance. Also, the medical genetic information (DNA) of both parents is available for the child if needed for diagnosis and treatment of medical problems.
Father's Rights In General
Paternity in Colorado, once established offers the father the same legal rights as a married father. The biological father can now petition a Colorado Court for child custody and will also be required to pay child support. Our family lawyers can also assist with:
Paternity Proceedings: Under the Unifrom Parentage Act (UPA) - C.R.S. 19-4-101, a child is presumed to be the child of the purported father if:
The child is conceived or born during the marriage (even if concieved before the marriage) or born within 300 days of the legal termination of the marriage. The presumption of legitimacy of a child born or concieved during the marriage is one of the strongest presumptions at law.
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He recieves the child into his home an openly holds the child out as his natural child
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The father acknowledges his paternity iin writing with the court or registry of vital statistics (birth certificate)
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Properly admistered paternity bold test shows that the probability to be 97% or higher that he is the father.
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The burdern of proof is on the mother to establish paternity.
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Deception by the mother is no defense to a father's paternity and child support obligations
If you are contemplating challenging or trying to establish paternity,contact our Colorado father's rights and paternity lawyers immediately at (7200 941 7200.
Husbands of a marriage presumed to be the father
Paternity Presumption: In Colorado, the husband of the marriage is presumed to be the biological father. This can be ultimately proven through DNA testing. Our Denver attorneys can also represent single individuals who want to establish or disprove paternity. Call us to find out your rights today at (720) 941 7200.
Contact our Denver paternity and father's rights lead attorney Lorraine Stark, who brings almost two decades of experience to the table. As with any area of family law, we understand that you need to be sure of any imputed obligations imposed as a father. For additional information on paternity, you can read this link to paternity FAQs.
Ways to establish paternity and father's rights
To make it easier for unwed parents in Colorado to establish paternity at the time of the child's birth, law makes it possible for both parents to sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity form in the hospital. Signing this form eliminates the court process and is vital to having the father's name added to the birth certificate.
Paternity Acknowledgment: Parents who do not sign the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity form at the hospital may sign it later at any local registrar of vital records, county clerk's office, local Department of Human Services office or child support enforcement office.
By acknowledging paternity, you can now legal enforce father's rights such as custody, support and decision making.
Persons on public assistance must participate in the establishment of paternity. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services' Division of Child Support Enforcement uses an administrative process when the alleged father and mother consent to establishing paternity or when the alleged father contests being named the father. The alleged father has the right to a hearing by an administrative law judge or a court hearing if he requests.
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Or call (720) 941-7200
Child Custody FAQs Child Custody Interference Child Custody Types Child Support Determining Visitation Rights Establishing Paternity Glossary How Much do Parents Pay? How is Child Custody Determined? Interstate Child Custody Paternity Testing Visitation Rights Who Pays Child Support?Our Denver Colorado paternity and family lawyers serve communities of Denver, Boulder, Aurora, Pueblo, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Englewood, Littleton, Arvada, Brighton, Longmont, Littleton, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Colorado Springs, Greeley, Northglenn, Golden, Breckenridge, and Aspen, Jefferson County - Adams County - Arapahoe County - Boulder County - Douglas County. We understand that quality work justifies reasonable rates when handling your paternity case.
Watson & Associates, LLC
1001 South Monaco Parkway, Ste 310
Denver CO 80224
(720) 941 7200
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Genetic tests, such as DNA are used when an alleged father is in doubt about being the father or whenever paternity is contested. However, the general rule is that if the paternity test is positive, he father can expect to pay the bill. Our Denver paternity lawyers rely on paternity testing (DNA) not just for the father’s sake but also for the child’s sake. We believe that the child’s interest is better protected for the future.
Father's Rights can also be established by default in Colorado when an alleged father fails to attend a scheduled interview or to go for a scheduled genetic test and has been properly served with a notice to appear.
Paternity can also be established in court using the standard judicial process for persons not receiving services from the Division of Child Support Enforcement or for alleged fathers of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients when they request it. See paternity FAQs at Findlaw.
