Denver Paternity Lawyers

Guiding Colorado Parents Through Paternity Matters

Paternity refers to the status of being the legal father of a child. Generally, paternity is only an issue if the parents are not married, as the law presumes the husband in a marriage is the father of the child. However, issues with paternity can be fraught and complex. Fortunately, you may be able to benefit from legal help!

At Frost & Beck, PC, our Denver paternity lawyers can help you legally establish paternity of your child. Because the court does not automatically recognize non-married men as the father of their biological child, you will have to follow certain legal procedures to officially be recognized as such. While it can be complicated or frustrating, with the help of an experienced and trusted legal advocate, you can become the legal father of your child with ease.

Ready to discuss your legal options? All consultations are completely confidential and come with no obligation. Contact us now!

Colorado Paternity Laws

Even if the parents are getting along and working amicably to raise their child, it is important to have legally established parenting rights for both parents. The Uniform Parentage Act, Colorado Revised Statutes § 19-4-101, et. seq. controls the establishment of paternity in the Juvenile Court.

According to C.R.S. § 19-4-105, a man is presumed to be the natural father of a child if:

• He and the child's mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage or within a certain period before or after the marriage.
• He and the child’s mother have attempted marriage before or after the child’s birth.
• He receives the child into his home and openly treats them as his natural child.
• He acknowledges his paternity of the child in writing that is approved by the court.
• Genetic tests prove paternity.

How Our Denver Lawyers Assist in Establishing Paternity

Paternity is most often established by agreement or by court action. However, there are three main ways to establish paternity:

• Signing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form, which is a legal agreement making the man who signs it the legal father,
• Applying for child support through child support services, which will require the father to be involved and identified, or
• Undergoing a court action, which will ask that the man named in the paternity case be declared the child’s legal father.

Paternity actions are filed in Juvenile Court. The Court will issue orders establishing paternity, child support, health insurance, parenting time, and decision making. The mother can request that the father pays or helps to pay for the birthing costs. Either the man involved can agree that he is the legal father, or a DNA test will be used to establish his relation to the child.