Establishing paternity to proceed with child support and custody

Here is something you need to know about paternity cases. Just speaking to Jonathan Healey, among the best family law lawyers in Edmonton, will make you feel better. Why? Because a good portion of your worry is a result of being misinformed or uninformed about what Alberta law says about paternity.

Paternity cases involve two individuals who have a child, but were never legally married. The first step is to establish paternity (who is the father), something that is not usually difficult, but necessary to proceed with the ultimate objective: launching other legal proceedings such as child support or child custody.

The parties involved can become very emotional and as such are not in the best position to advance their interests. A divorce lawyer, in contrast, can be emotionally detached and understands how the law applies to paternity claims, both of which are necessary to achieve a satisfying result.

If both parties are unable to reach an agreement, the matter goes to court and a judge will render a decision. Jonathan Healey, the Principal of Healey Law, and his legal team will do everything possible to help you complete an agreement without going to court. But if that is the only alternative, you can expect vigorous and compassionate advocacy for your position.

Quick facts about establishing paternity

Establishing paternity – The DNA or genetics of a child are contributed in equal parts by the father and mother. Once testing has confirmed the parentage of the mother, the remaining testing will determine who is the father.

How accurate is DNA testing – If the DNA found in the father matches the DNA in the child, the results are considered 99.95% accurate or higher. If there is no match, there is 0 probability of paternity.

When are results available – It usually takes about a week to get the results of a DNA test.

Submitting DNA test results to a court – Strict rules govern the collection and submission of DNA samples to a court. Only samples collected by a certified DNA testing facility are admissible.

No age limits – Any individual, including newborns and infants, can be tested.