Paternity Lawyers in Stamford, CT

Establishing paternity is a crucial step for unmarried parents in protecting parental rights and a child’s future. As a mother, you may need to establish legal recognition of paternity to secure child support and give your child access to essential benefits, such as health insurance or inheritance rights. As a father, you may want to gain the legal right to secure custody or visitation and build a meaningful and lasting relationship with your child. 

These issues can be highly emotional and legally complex, leaving many parents unsure where to turn. At Siegel, Colin, & Kaufman, we help both mothers and fathers navigate the paternity process with skill and compassion. If you are a parent who needs assistance in the matter, we can guide you through court procedures and advocate for outcomes that serve the best interests of your child.

Discuss your case with a Stamford paternity attorney at Siegel, Colin, & Kaufman. Call (203) 599-3413 or reach us online to book a phone, office, or virtual consultation. We serve clients in Stamford, Westport, and statewide.

How Can You Establish Paternity in Connecticut? 

Connecticut has the following two ways to establish paternity:

• Acknowledgment of paternity. If both parents agree on the father’s paternity, they can complete the “Acknowledgment of Parentage” form. This can be done at the hospital after birth or later. Once processed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the father’s name is added to the birth certificate.
• Court-ordered paternity. If the parents disagree on who the father is, a court can legally determine paternity. In these cases, the court uses genetic paternity testing, which can take several months to resolve.

If the parents are married when the child is born, they are presumed to be the legal parents. A divorce does not alter a determination of paternity.

Fathers’ Rights in Connecticut

Fathers can establish paternity through the Connecticut courts if the mother does not agree to sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage form. This process typically involves genetic testing to confirm parentage. 

At Siegel, Colin, & Kaufman, we have extensive experience advocating for fathers’ rights and helping clients secure the legal recognition they need to build and protect their relationship with their child.

Once paternity is legally established, you and your child’s mother can create a parenting plan through negotiation, collaborative law, or mediation. When agreement is impossible, either of you can bring an action in court to determine parenting time. 

In these cases, the judge evaluates what arrangement serves the child’s best interests and issues a schedule for both parties to follow. Courts apply the same custody standards to these cases as they do to divorce cases, prioritizing the child’s needs and best interests. 

A negative paternity test in Connecticut means that the man in question is not biologically related to the child. As a result, he has no parental rights or responsibilities, such as custody, visitation, and child support.