Parentage

Parentage legally determines the rightful parents of any child or multiple children. Unmarried couples in Will County and Grundy County in Illinois must file for a parentage judgment for mutual children after a separation. Establishing parentage is important for a number of reasons, including determining child support, child custody, visitation rights and legal custody.

Parentage cases also become necessary when one parent refuses to claim the child or is resistant to pay support for children whose paternity is in question. Often, paternity tests are necessary to legally determine parentage. A parentage judgment can also resolve other issues such as inheritance claims or the right to receive Social Security or veteran’s benefits.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

Like any family law matter, parentage is not always a clear-cut legal issue. When a couple is not married, they don’t have to deal with the typical divorce issues of property and asset division, but they often need to use a lawyer to handle the uncovered expenses for mutual children. It’s important to note that a parentage judgment is not an order of child custody or child support, it is simply a ruling that names the legal parents of children from an unmarried partnership. Before an order for support can be filed, parentage must be established.

Erin Webster O’Sullivan, P.C. has handled parentage matters for both mothers and fathers in Illinois. Ms. O’Sullivan approaches every family law case with an open mind and heart. She has a stellar reputation among her clients as well as her peers as an excellent listener and an aggressive client advocate. Call 815-727-2100 or send an email to set up a consultation today. Even if you’re not sure you need a lawyer, Ms. O’Sullivan can provide you with effective advice regarding any family law matter.