Ouren Law represents men and women in the Kennewick area and throughout Washington in matters involving paternity, or legal fatherhood. Whether you are a mother who seeks child support and needs to establish who the child’s father is so support can be sought, or you are a man whose paternity is in question and you wish to assert your rights, I provide knowledgeable advice and advocacy. Whatever your reason for establishing or denying paternity, I represent your interests under the law.
There are many reasons that the legal establishment of fatherhood is important. When married couples have children, the husband is legally presumed to be the father. But when unmarried couples have a child, the mother usually retains sole physical and legal custody and the right to make important decisions about the child until paternity has been established.
Clients I represent in paternity actions include:
Children benefit greatly when fatherhood is established: they not only can form essential parental bonds from early childhood but also be protected financially from the start. They are also allowed to know their father’s medical history, which could prove essential when illness strikes.
Paternity actions in Washington can be filed by men or women. Once one party files, however, any component of the relationship — such as visitation — can instantly become an issue. It is vital to have skilled legal counsel and establish paternity as soon as possible to protect parental rights and the rights of children of a relationship.
I can help you to access blood and DNA tests to establish or disprove paternity, and then negotiate and draft relevant documents. Every aspect of my firm’s paternity practice is carried out with the utmost discretion and privacy. Whether you are seeking to prove parentage or dispute it, I will advocate for your rights.
Whether you wish to establish or dispute paternity, Ouren Law can guide you through the process to protect your rights. Call me at 509-783-5759 or contact me online to schedule a consultation at my Kennewick office.