Legitimation Attorney In Augusta
Smith & Smith Attorneys at Law
If the father was not married to the mother at the time of the birth, the father only has the duty to pay child support but has no parental rights. To obtain parental rights, the father must petition the court to legitimate the child. If the mother opposes the legitimation, the action becomes contested and the parents and the child must submit to DNA testing. If the mother does not oppose the legitimation, then the action is uncontested and DNA testing is generally not required.
When a father petitions for legitimation, generally, child support and visitation rights are established either by consent or by court order. If a father fails to legitimate his child, he does not have the right to visitation or have a voice in decisions concerning medical treatment, religious affiliation or education and extracurricular activities.
Smith & Smith Attorneys at Law have spent over twenty years in the practice of Divorce and Family Law and because we specialize in this area of the law, we believe that we can and will provide you with superior legal representation and the experience you need.