Fatherhood for Nebraska dads can be a thrilling and terrifying prospect. Actively participating in your child’s life is often more challenging if you and the mother have split up. If you have a child with your ex but were not married at the time of birth, you may not have any legal parental rights. At the London Law Office P.C., L.L.O., we often assist clients in proving paternity and creating custody agreements that work for everyone involved.
According to Verwell Family, birth fathers can acknowledge paternity voluntarily in two ways. If you are present at your child’s birth, you may sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity form. Also called a Declaration of Paternity, this document is a requirement if you wish to have your name on the birth certificate.
If you are not present at the time of birth, you can complete an affidavit of paternity. It enables you to add your name to the birth certificate if it is not already issued or modify an existing one. Establishing paternity is about more than child support and visitation rights. He or she has the right to death benefits such as social security and Veteran’s benefits. It makes it possible to leave them an inheritance upon your death. Your child also gains access to your medical history.
By legally claiming paternity, you can apply for joint physical or legal custody and receive visitation rights. You can claim these rights, even if the mother disagrees. An attorney can help you navigate the legal process and file a proposed parenting plan with the court. Visit our webpage for more information on this topic.
