Family Law Paternity and Legitimization

Practice Description

In any situation where a child is born out of wedlock in Atlanta, questions about the child’s care could arise. These questions might include who has custody over the child, who will financially support the child and who can obtain parental rights. The answers to these questions are often quite complicated, and it is advisable to seek the counsel of an experienced paternity and legitimation attorney to help you during any legal proceedings.

At Andersen, Tate & Carr, our knowledgeable and skilled paternity and legitimation attorneys will work tirelessly to make sure you and your child’s rights are protected during any legal processes. Our dedicated attorneys, like Pat McDonough and Trinity Hundredmark, have the compassion necessary to properly handle our clients’ paternity and legitimation cases. They will ensure that your case receives personal attention and that you get the parental rights you deserve.

Definition of Atlanta Legitimation

According to Georgia Code § 19-7-22, legitimation is the legal process that fathers in Atlanta can use to obtain custody and/or parental rights of a child was born out of wedlock. When a father does not go through the legitimation process, they have no legal rights to visiting with their child. They also do not have any custody of the child. However, they still may be held financially responsible for supporting the child.

There are some things that get done that fathers believe will be equivalent to going through the legitimation process, but they are actually not. The following list are things that will not give you legitimation and paternity rights to your child:

• Putting the child in the father’s last will and testament
• Enrolling the child in school
• Getting confirmation through a paternity test that you are the child’s father
• Paying child support for the child

The Atlanta Legitimation Process

So, how does a father obtain legitimation in the Atlanta area? The legitimation process is complex, and it is recommended that you seek the counsel of an Atlanta legitimation attorney to guide you through this process. The father will file for a petition for legitimation from his county’s court. The mother of the child will be formally notified, and she has the right to attend the court hearing. During the court hearing, the court will only grant legitimation if they believe that giving the father custody is in the child’s best interests.

Contact Our Team of Experienced Atlanta Paternity and Legitimation Attorneys Today

At Andersen, Tate & Carr, our knowledgeable and skilled team of Atlanta paternity and legitimation attorneys will be able to advise you on how to approach the legitimation process. We have years of experience handling legitimation cases and have seen countless successful results. The first step towards understanding your rights is to speak with one of our family law attorneys about pursuing a paternity or legitimation petition.

Our dedicated attorneys have the experience necessary to make the process easier for you and your family. We are committed to helping our Atlanta clients reach the best possible outcome. We will help you recognize your legal rights and determine whether pursuing paternity or legitimation is in your best interest as a parent. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can help you.