Puyallup Paternity or Parentage Cases for Unmarried Couples

Paternity attorneys in Puyallup are here to dynamically support you in determining fatherhood and fiercely advocating for your parental rights. When the question of paternity arises, it's not just about legal definitions—it's about securing your child's future and ensuring they have the support they deserve. We're passionate about fighting for what's right, employing our extensive legal expertise to clarify and resolve complex situations. With us, you're not just getting a lawyer; you're gaining a dedicated champion for your family's rights. Ready to take a stand and seek justice for your child? Reach out to us. Let's tackle this together with determination.

In Washington state, legal considerations for unmarried couples in paternity cases revolve around establishing paternity, determining parental rights and responsibilities, and addressing child support and custody matters.

If a child is born to unmarried parents, Pierce County Courts establish paternity in several ways:

• Voluntary Acknowledgment: Parents can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) form at the hospital or later at the Department of Health or the Division of Child Support.
• Court Order: If there is a paternity dispute, parents may file a paternity action in court. Courts may then order genetic testing to determine biological parentage.

Once paternity has been established, both parents have certain rights and responsibilities regarding the child. These may include:

• Custody/Visitation: To ensure the well-being of their child, unmarried parents are encouraged to create a parenting plan outlining custody and visitation arrangements. If they're unable to reach an agreement, the Pierce County Family Courts will intervene to decide based on the child's best interests.
• Decision-Making Authority: Parents may share decision-making authority regarding the child's education, healthcare, and other important matters.
• Child Support Obligations: While both parents are legally responsible for financially supporting their child regardless of their relationship, the non-custodial parent may be required to pay child support to the custodial parent.

To calculate child support, Washington uses a complex formula that considers the parents' incomes and other factors. Child custody arrangements can vary and may involve joint custody, sole custody, or a combination.

Once courts establish paternity, they may issue a parentage order confirming the legal relationship between the father and the child, establishing rights and responsibilities related to custody, visitation, and child support. Unmarried couples may be encouraged to participate in mediation to resolve conflicts regarding paternity, custody, and support issues outside of court.

Unmarried couples in Washington must understand their legal rights and obligations regarding paternity, custody, and support. Consult with a family law attorney specializing in paternity cases to receive guidance and assistance navigating the legal process.

In cases where parentage is in dispute or unclear, getting a paternity test is essential. To get a paternity test in Puyallup, Washington, you typically follow these steps:

1. Choose a Paternity Testing Provider: Research and select a reputable paternity testing provider or laboratory. Look for companies that offer legally admissible tests if you anticipate needing the results for legal purposes.
2. Schedule an Appointment or Order a Home Test Kit: Depending on your chosen provider, you may need to schedule an appointment at a local testing facility or order a home test kit online. Make sure to follow the provider's instructions carefully.
3. Provide Samples: Each person involved in the paternity test (the alleged father, child, and sometimes the mother) must provide a DNA sample. Samples are usually collected using a cheek swab, which collects cells inside the cheek. You will then send the samples to the testing laboratory for analysis.
4. Await Test Results: The DNA samples will undergo analysis at the testing laboratory to ascertain paternity probability. The time frame for receiving results varies based on the provider and test type, with some tests delivering outcomes within days.
5. Get Test Outcome: Upon completion of the analysis, you will receive the paternity test results. If you opt for a legally admissible test, the Courts will use these results for legal purposes, such as court proceedings to establish paternity.
6. Seek Legal Advice: Should the paternity test outcomes hold legal significance, like in child support or custody matters, seeking counsel from a family law attorney is advisable. They can guide your rights and available courses of action.

Choose a reputable and accredited paternity testing provider to ensure accuracy, which your Puyallup paternity attorney can advise you on.

While unmarried fathers in Washington state have legal rights to paternity, custody, visitation, and support, these rights can vary depending on different factors and legal proceedings. Let's delve into a concise overview of unmarried fathers' rights in Washington.

1. You Have a Right to Establish Paternity: Unmarried fathers have the right to establish paternity, typically done voluntarily by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) form at the time of the child's birth or later. If paternity is contested, a father can petition the court for genetic testing to establish biological parentage.
2. Parents Have Full Rights Under Washington Law: Unmarried fathers possess the right to pursue custody or visitation rights for their children. However, it's essential to note that biological paternity alone does not automatically grant parental rights. To formally establish legal parentage and assert their rights, fathers may need to petition the court.
3. You Have a Right to Seek Custody and Visitation: Unmarried fathers have the right to seek custody or visitation arrangements that are in the child's best interests. If the parents cannot agree on custody and visitation, the court will intervene and make decisions based on the child's welfare.
4. You Have a Right to Change Custody and Support Orders: Unmarried fathers have the right to petition the court to modify custody, visitation, or child support orders if circumstances, such as the father's employment status or the child's needs, change.
5. You Have a Right to Legal Representation: To protect their rights and interests in paternity, custody, visitation, and child support matters, unmarried fathers have the right to seek legal representation. A Puyallup paternity attorney can provide guidance and advocate on behalf of the father in court proceedings.

Fathers also have legal obligations under Washington law. One of them is to provide financial support for their children, regardless of their relationship with the child's other parent. The amount of child support is determined based on state guidelines, considering factors such as the father's income, the child's needs, and the custody arrangement.

In cases where parents are unmarried and cannot agree on custody arrangements for their child, the law typically determines custody through legal proceedings in family court. In Washington state, as in many other jurisdictions, the primary consideration in deciding custody is the child's best interests.

There are two types of child custody in Washington:

• Legal Custody: Legal custody entails the responsibility to make significant decisions concerning the child's upbringing, including education, healthcare, and religious upbringing.
• Physical Custody: Physical custody denotes the primary residence where the child resides daily.

There are multiple types of custody arrangements, including:

• Sole Custody: The courts grant one parent full custody of the child, while the other may be granted visitation privileges or allocated parenting time.
• Shared Custody: Both parents participate in the child's physical and/or legal custody. Shared custody can encompass joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or a combination of both.

When determining custody, the court considers various factors, including but not limited to:

• The child's bond with each parent
• Each parent's capacity to meet the child's physical, emotional, and developmental requirements
• The child's adaptation to their living environment, school, and community
• Any parental history of domestic violence or substance abuse
• The willingness of each parent to encourage and support a relationship between the child and the other parent

Before court intervention, unmarried parents may be mandated to attend mediation to establish a custody arrangement. If they reach an agreement, they will submit it to the court for endorsement. Otherwise, the court will conduct a hearing to determine custody. Throughout the hearing, both parents can present evidence and testify in support of their stance, after which the judge will make a custody determination focused on the child's best interests. When a parent's living situation changes significantly, or a child's needs evolve, custody orders can be modified to reflect these new circumstances.

Unmarried parents must seek legal advice from a family law attorney in Puyallup specializing in paternity to understand their rights and options regarding custody.

When parentage is unclear, our Puyallup attorneys are on the case. We'll help establish paternity, protect your rights, and ensure the courts do what is fair and in the child’s best interests. Contact us now to learn more about your legal options when facing a paternity case. We’re here to protect your parental rights in Pierce County.