Minnesota Fathers' Rights Attorney

Protecting Fathers' Rights in Minnesota

Fathers must establish paternity in the state of Minnesota. This can be done at the child's birth, by signing a Recognition of Parentage. Another process for establishing fathers' rights is through a court-ordered paternity test. A hearing to establish paternity can be arranged and all issues surrounding child custody, child support, parenting and visitation and other issues will be decided in the same manner that these issues are arranged in a divorce.

In cases in which both parents are in agreement, they can arrange for a Recognition of Parentage to be signed and filed with the Minnesota Department of Health, at which point it becomes a valid document. If the mother of the child is unmarried and both parents are at least 18 years old, this statement is final, and can be arranged at any time after the birth of the child. A Minnesota divorce attorney from Heimerl & Lammers can help you protect the rights you have as a father under state law.

In some cases, there is a dispute about who the father of the child is. The father may dispute that he is in fact the parent of the child, or even a husband could dispute his parentage. In such cases, it is possible to establish the actual father of the child through DNA testing, which can be ordered by the court. When a father is not recognized as the other parent of the child, they may wish to move forward with this legal action to gain access, custody or visitation and take responsibility for their child, and share the costs of raising them. This can be exceptionally important to fathers who are denied access, or when the mother fails to acknowledge that they are the father of the child.

In the state of Minnesota, fathers have rights, but in some cases, they need to be protected and fought for. The courts evaluate several factors when making decisions, including DNA testing and the previous relationship of the mother and the individual who claims to be the father of the child. It is not always necessary to have DNA testing to get this matters resolved, but it can be done if the mother continues to deny that the individual is the actual father of the baby or child in question. A father has the right to access to his children; the state will uphold these rights in almost every case. When you are in the position in which you need to fight for your rights to your child or children, our fathers' rights attorney at the firm can help. We are very familiar with every aspect of family law, including the most complex of cases involving fathers' rights, paternity, and how to manage these cases with our client's interests as our focus and concern.

Contact a Minnesota fathers' rights attorney from our firm for immediate legal counsel regarding your rights as a father.