If you’re a parent in Saskatoon who needs to establish or challenge paternity, our experienced family law lawyers can guide you through the process. Whether you need to prove paternity to secure your child’s benefits or protect your parental rights, Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation is here to help. In some cases, you might not know for sure who the father is, while in others, you are looking to establish that you are the biological parent to move forward with your family law case.

Why Establishing Paternity Matters

First, you should learn why it’s worth the time and effort to determine paternity. The reasons for this can vary for everyone.

For instance, if you are a father who wants parenting time, but the mother of the child claims you are not the father, a paternity test can solve this issue.

Additionally, if the mother is about to allow someone else to adopt the child, you will need to prove that you are the biological father if you want to contest this legal action.

If you are a mother who wants to make sure the biological father of your child pays child support, establishing paternity is an important step in your family law case.

Finally, if a woman claims you are the father of her child and wants you to pay child support, but you know or suspect that you are not the father, you will need to take a test that proves this. Our paternity lawyers in Saskatoon can help you.

How Our Saskatoon Lawyers Help Establish Paternity

No matter what your situation is, it’s clear that establishing paternity is a critical step in your family law case. Fortunately, the process is quite simple. If the mother and father of the child both agree on who the father is, they can sign an agreement or ask the court to issue a consent order.

However, in many cases, one parent denies the true paternity of the child, in which case a judge can order a DNA test. This means the child and the possible father will have their DNA tested to see if it matches.

What Happens After You Determine the Paternity of a Child?

Once the DNA test results are in, a judge can make a decision on your case. The next step depends on the reason for the test. If you are the child’s mother, proving who the father is can help your child get:

• Child support
• Health insurance
• Survivor’s benefits
• Life insurance
• Inheritance

Perhaps more importantly, identifying the child’s father can allow the two to foster a parent/child relationship. It can also create a better sense of identity for the child, especially if they have other relatives on their father’s side to get to know, such as grandparents and cousins.

If the test shows that you’re not the biological or legal father, you won’t be responsible for child support payments. This should put an end to any paternity issues you’ve been having with someone who mistakenly identified you as their child’s parent. Contact a paternity lawyer today to get started on your case.

When to Hire Paternity Lawyers in Saskatoon

There are many reasons why determining a child’s parentage is important. Whether you are a father who wants more parenting time with the child after divorce, or an unmarried mother who needs to prove paternity to get child support, you can use the legal system to get the results you need.

To do this, you will need to hire an experienced legal assistance for family disputes in Saskatoon who has helped numerous clients prove paternity. If you’re ready to work with a law firm that employs skilled, caring paternity lawyers in Saskatoon, call our office today at 306-518-8107. We would be happy to set up a time to discuss why you should establish paternity and what the possible outcomes of your case are.