Indianapolis Paternity Attorneys

In Indiana, paternity may be established voluntarily through a properly completed paternity affidavit or through a court proceeding. Parents may sign a paternity affidavit at the hospital after the child's birth, and in some circumstances an affidavit may later be completed through a local health department.

When paternity is disputed or has not been established voluntarily, either parent may pursue a court determination. The court may consider an agreement between the parties or order genetic testing when appropriate.

A properly executed paternity affidavit legally establishes paternity and carries significant legal consequences. Once paternity is established, the father acquires legal rights and responsibilities concerning the child.

Because strict deadlines and legal standards may apply to challenging an affidavit, anyone who has questions about signing—or has already signed—a paternity affidavit should obtain legal advice promptly.

A paternity action may be filed when the child's legal father has not already been established. The court proceeding identifies the child's legal father and may also address related matters such as custody, parenting time, child support, health insurance, and certain expenses associated with the child's birth.

Our attorneys help clients prepare the necessary filings, respond to paternity petitions, gather relevant information, and present disputed issues to the court.

When biological parentage is disputed, a party may request genetic testing as part of the legal proceeding. A legally defensible test requires appropriate identification and chain-of-custody procedures; an informal home test may not serve the same purpose in court.

The timing of a genetic-testing request can be especially important when a paternity affidavit has already been signed. We help clients evaluate the applicable requirements and take appropriate action.

Establishing paternity does not by itself resolve every question about a child's care. The court may need to enter orders determining legal and physical custody based on the child's best interests.

We represent parents seeking agreed custody arrangements as well as parents involved in disputed custody proceedings. Learn more about child custody in Indiana.

Once paternity is legally established, the court may enter an order setting out when the child will spend time with each parent. The appropriate arrangement depends on the child's age, needs, family circumstances, and best interests.

For more information about schedules, holidays, visitation disputes, and the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, visit our parenting time and visitation page.

Paternity proceedings commonly include the establishment of child support. The court may consider both parents' incomes, certain child-related expenses, health-insurance costs, childcare expenses, and other information required under the Indiana Child Support Guidelines.

A support order may also address medical insurance, uninsured medical expenses, and other financial responsibilities relating to the child.

Paternity disputes can involve questions about biological parentage, the validity or effect of a paternity affidavit, genetic testing, or whether another person is already recognized as the child's legal father.

These cases may involve important deadlines and complex legal issues. We represent individuals seeking to establish paternity as well as individuals responding to or contesting a paternity claim.

Parents may be able to agree on paternity and related issues such as custody, parenting time, and support. An agreement can then be submitted to the court for review and approval.

When the parties cannot agree, the court may conduct a hearing and decide the disputed issues based on the evidence and applicable Indiana law. We prepare every case carefully for both negotiated resolution and court proceedings.

Paternity cases frequently involve related questions about child custody, parenting time and visitation, modification of existing orders, and other Indiana family law matters.