PATERNITY

Special circumstances apply in cases involving the rights and obligations of unmarried parents. Judicial attitudes have changed significantly and old assumptions have been replaced with a child-centered process. The lawyers at LSR Family Law Group are skilled in helping unmarried parents use new approaches to resolve paternity concerns.

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Navigating the complexities

Even though a child’s parents may not be married or in a civil union, Illinois law still provides rules to protect that child’s interests. The Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 sets forth the rules for how a litigated paternity case proceeds. Essentially, all the criteria and procedures established in the divorce statute are used in paternity cases.

 

The parties may not agree on the identity of the father. In that case, a test is performed and the results are provided to the court, which then enters an order declaring the identity of the father.

After paternity is determined, the next task is to decide on the best allocation of decision-making authority and determine a schedule of how the parents will share time with the child. 

Once the parents reach an agreement on both these issues, it is recorded on a Parenting Allocation Judgment document. Note that if the parents cannot agree, the court will make these decisions. Just as in divorce scenarios, judgments can only be changed if one of the parents can show it is necessary to protect the child’s interests.
 

A guiding hand during a stressful time

Our attorneys have years of experience helping parents navigate the complex procedures of paternity cases. We can answer your questions to help you resolve a great deal of the anxiety you may be feeling. Contact our Northbrook area office today for a free 30-minute consultation. You can reach us by phone at 847-412-9950 or contact us at the link below to schedule an appointment.