Parentage
In parentage cases, also called "paternity cases," the court makes orders that say who the child's legal parents are.
If parents are married when a child is born, there is usually no question about parentage. The law assumes that the husband is the father and the wife is the mother, so paternity is automatically established in most cases.
For unmarried parents, parentage needs to be established legally. Once legal parentage is established, the court can make orders about custody, visitation and child support. Other ways that a person can be established as a legal parent are: signing a Declaration of Paternity at the hospital when the child is born, or having a child support judgment entered establishing legal paternity.
The Petition to Establish a Parental Relationship is the pleading used when there is no legal father established for a child.
A Petition for Custody and Support is used when there is a legal father but there are no orders for custody or visitation.
If you already have an open case but do not have orders you may want to contact the Self-Help center for assistance and referral to the proper clinic.
The Self-Help Center offers a clinic that provides assistance in filling out the forms related to establishing an original custody or visitation order. Please check the clinic calendar for the “Petition for Custody and Support & Beginning Paternity” clinic.
For more information on paternity cases, click here.