Paternity
For more than 30 years, Todd Alexander, Attorney at Law has helped women establish the legal paternity of their children and men obtain parental rights to their children. We are also highly familiar with how to deal with cases in which paternity is in question. Among the great social changes of the past half-century is the greater participation of fathers in the day-to-day care of their children. No longer can it be assumed that mothers carry the responsibility alone, and many, many fathers fully participate in the joys and burdens of child-rearing. As a result of this changing role, a greater interest in fathers’ rights has emerged. Despite or because of the marked increases in the numbers of divorces and single parents in Oklahoma, more and more fathers desire to actively participate in their children’s formative years.
Paternity actions in Oklahoma can be filed by men or women. Once one party files, any component of the relationship, such as visitation, can instantly become an issue. We can counsel you if you’re a mother who wants to use a paternity suit to identify the father of your child for purposes of establishing child support obligations. We also represent fathers whose paternity suits are aimed at gaining child custody and visitation rights, as well as those who want to establish that they are not a father in a given case. We can call on DNA testing resources to establish or disprove paternity, and we negotiate and draft relevant documents for our clients.
Every aspect of our firm’s paternity practice is carried out with utmost discretion and privacy. Whether your unique personal situation involves a father’s right to be closer to a child or the intention to prove paternity, contact us today.
providing valuable counsel for your paternity action
Custody & Visitation Rights
Each parent has a specific duty to provide for their child. Child support and custody is not limited to the mother. If the father can provide a better living environment for the child and there is a healthy relationship between the father and child, the Court may see fit to give custody to the father. The judge will review factors such as how close the child is to either parent. They will review living arrangements, schooling options, and even proximity to extended family. Each factor will be considered before the Court approves any form of child custody and support arrangement. The Court will always place the best interest of the child above any other factor.
child support
It is a very common mistake to believe that if a parent is behind on their child support they are not entitled to have visitation with their child. Blocking a child from seeing their parent is considered abuse by the Court system and the custodial parent can find themselves in trouble. It is very important to understand that the courts believe that it is beneficial for any child to have open access to both of their parents. While the court understands that it may not be possible for the child to live with both parents in the same home, they want to ensure that a child always can have access to either parent.
establishing paternity
There are many cases where a father is denied access to his child because paternity has not been formally established. This can easily be resolved through a paternity test and the correct court actions. We can help you go through the right channels to establish your parentage and establish your parental rights. They will also help you set up the right type of support for your child and establish a visitation schedule that is both fair to you and your child.