Paternity

Lawyers Asserting the Rights of Unmarried Parents

If you have a child from a relationship outside of marriage, you may be concerned about child custody and support. Whether or not a child's parents are married at the time of birth, that child has a right under Oklahoma law to the care and support of both parents.

At Armstrong & Lowe, P.C., in Tulsa, we help parents bring paternity actions in order to clarify parental rights. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced family law attorney.

Enforcing Child Custody and Support Rights

Often, the parents of a child born outside of marriage either choose to live together or are able to agree on custody and financial support. However, these relationships often break down over time.

Sometimes, one parent is left with custody but does not receive any financial support from the other. Other times, one parent refuses to let the other see the child. In either case, there are legal rights that can be enforced through a paternity action.

Regardless of marital status, fathers and mothers both generally have rights to see their children, and children have rights to child support. Our knowledgeable lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue them in court if the other parent is not willing to do the right thing.

Understanding Oklahoma Paternity Laws

In most cases, the paternity of a child is not in dispute because the names of the mother and father are both on the birth certificate. In these cases, it is still necessary to get a court order before enforceable child custody and support obligations can be put in place.

In some cases, the father of a child has not yet been legally determined and may be in dispute. In these cases, if one person has been presumed to be the child's father, that will be given some weight, but the court may also order a DNA test.

Contact us to discuss the process you will need to go through in order to bring a paternity action.