In Nevada, parental rights can be complicated for unwed parents. The attorneys at Bellon & Maningo Ltd. have years of experience in handling these complex issues for mothers and fathers wishing to establish paternity in Nevada.
If you have questions about paternity, talk to a skilled Las Vegas paternity lawyer at Bellon & Maningo, Ltd. by calling 702-997-6042.
Effective Representation for Mothers and Fathers in Paternity Cases
Paternity relates to children born out of wedlock and sets forth rights and obligations of the biological father, which otherwise may not exist absent a court order. A judgment of paternity is a judicial determination that a parent-child relation exists between a father and a child. Such determination is necessary to obtain orders for child custody, visitation and child support. Bellon & Maningo, Ltd. has successfully fought to establish parental rights and is fully trained to handle the many complexities in these cases.
A parent-child relationship extends to every child and parent, regardless of whether or not the parents are married. However, the mother of a child born out of wedlock has primary custody of the child if no judgment of paternity or custody order has been entered. This does not apply if the father has provided sole care and custody of the child for six weeks or more after abandonment by the mother (NRS 126.031).
Certain facts create a presumption that a man is the biological father of a child. These may include cohabitation with the mother for at least six months before and through the period of conception, marriage between the parents, and genetic testing showing a probability of 99 percent or more that a man is the father. However, this presumption may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
If you are the natural father of a child born out of wedlock, it is probably in your best interest to file an action establishing parental rights. Additionally, mothers of children born out of wedlock have a right to financial contribution from the father to assist in caring for the children. Once paternity is established, the same rules apply to child custody, visitation and support as would apply to divorced parents.
Due to the complex nature of paternity issues, timing can be extremely important in a paternity case and seeking the advice of counsel early in the process can affect the outcome of your case.
If you believe a judgment of paternity may be right for you, please contact the family law attorneys of Bellon & Maningo, Ltd. in Las Vegas, Nevada. Call 702-997-6042, or e-mail the firm to arrange a consultation and case evaluation.
