St. Louis Paternity Lawyers

Helping Fathers Establish Their Rights in Missouri

Motherhood and fatherhood are one of life’s most treasured experiences. Our attorneys are here to help you establish and enjoy it.

Missouri law outlines specific procedures to establish parentage for children who are born out of wedlock. The Declaration of Paternity allows the father-child relationship to be identified. Establishing paternity is important for a father figure to protect their rights and place in their child’s life, and for mothers to ensure they have access to their due child support. Kallen Law Firm, LLC can help you work to bring an action for declaration of paternity to preserve these rights. Once this is in place, we can fight to further protect your rights and seek child custody or child support.

To learn more about establishing paternity in Missouri, contact our paternity attorneys today for a free consultation:(314) 441-7793.

How Is Paternity Established in Missouri?

Unmarried couples have two pursuable avenues for establishing paternity. First, parents may choose to sign an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity in the hospital upon the birth of the baby. By completing this voluntary declaration, the man may sign the child’s birth certificate and assume the role of their legal father.

Couples still have an opportunity to complete this if they did not have the chance to do so at the hospital. Our St., Louis paternity attorneys can help you contact the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Vital Records or the Family Support Division to obtain and complete the affidavit.

Alternatively, an order can be received that will effectively name the father of the child.

If a mother is married to someone other than the child’s father, the married couple can complete a subsection of the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity called the Husband’s Denial of Paternity. In cases where the husband cannot complete the form, either due to unwillingness or being uncontactable, we can help you seek the assistance of Child Support services to progress the process.

Understanding the Missouri Paternity Declaration Process

To declare paternity in Missouri, someone must present an action for declaration of paternity. This can be done by practically anyone involved in the situation, including:

• The child
• The mother
• The presumed father

The Family Support Division provides free paternity testing when paternity has not yet been established. If the test comes back from the lab with at least a 98% certainty that the man is the child’s father, he becomes the presumed father. However, this does not establish paternity on its own. The two must then complete their Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity or obtain an order to have the man properly establish his role as legal guardian to the child.

Contact Our St. Louis Paternity Lawyers Today

Parentage cases carry an enormous weight. The way the case is handled effectively decides the rights you have to your child. A state lawyer will not represent parents in paternity cases. As such, it’s crucial that you enlist the help of a St. Louis paternity lawyer from Kallen Law Firm, LLC for the legal guidance and counsel necessary to proceed with the case. We will help you:

• Understand your rights
• Establish a parenting plan to present in court
• Fight for your custody, visitation, and child support wishes
• Present evidence to establish your paternity

Our paternity lawyers in St. Louis will remain by your side every step of the way and work tirelessly to help you fight to achieve the gift of fatherhood. Likewise, we work diligently to ensure mothers get the assistance and child support they deserve. Kallen Law Firm, LLC will help you through the paternity process with the goals of serving the best interest of you and your child.

Questions regarding paternity? Learn how our St. Louis paternity lawyers can help by contacting Kallen Law Firm, LLC today.