Protecting Parent-Child Relationships for Unmarried Fathers and Mothers
As a matter of public policy, Arizona does not distinguish between married and unmarried parents in promoting strong relationships between parents and children. This policy preference covers not only the practical aspects of financial support that are typically the focus of paternity proceedings in court, but also legal custody, physical custody and visitation.
To work with a law firm that can help single mothers and fathers understand the possibilities for defining and maintaining a solid relationship with their children, contact the Law Offices of Janice M. Palmer, P.C., in Chandler. We advise people about all aspects of paternity, child support, fathers' rights and making a single-parent relationship work for your child and yourself.
Mesa and Tempe Fathers' Rights Attorney: Call 480-269-8926 or 888-366-9614
Identifying the biological father of a child only rarely presents close issues of fact in an Arizona paternity case. DNA testing will generally prove that a particular man is the father of a particular child, even if he denies paternity. In many situations, the man will already have acknowledged his child willingly, and there is no issue as to paternity.
The most immediate practical consequence of a paternity action is to create a continuing support obligation between the man and his child. The same income-based child support guidelines used to establish these obligations in divorce cases are used in paternity actions.
In Arizona, the state, through the Attorney General's Office, can initiate paternity and maternity proceedings. If the State of Arizona initiates the case, the only issues that will be addressed are establishing paternity and determining child support. The State cannot address custody issues. If a father or mother wishes to establish a parenting arrangement with the child, he or she will have to file a request to establish custody and parenting time. As in the case of married parents, the time that a non-custodial parent spends with his or her child is an adjustment (by percentage, depending on the amount of days spent with the non-custodial parent) in the amount of child support paid.
Advising Unmarried Parents in the East Valley and Northern Arizona
Unmarried fathers have as much right to legal, physical or even sole custody of their children as any other parent has, but they have to initiate the legal action necessary to formalize their rights. Chandler paternity lawyer Janice Palmer works with many unmarried parents to develop parenting plan agreements or argue contested court hearings about the nature and extent of a single father's right to custody or parenting time.
To learn more about your options on either side of a paternity action in Maricopa County or northern Arizona, contact the Law Offices of Janice M. Palmer, P.C., in Chandler.
