Oak Park IL Paternity Lawyer

Skilled Parentage Attorney Serving Hillside, Forest Park, Berkeley, and Throughout the Area

Establishing parentage (formerly known as paternity) for children born out of wedlock is an important step for both mothers and fathers, and for the best interests of the child. For mothers, paternity/parentage helps provide a basis for securing child support. For fathers, it is a step toward the allocation of parental responsibilities (child custody) and becoming more involved in the life of the child.

At the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C., we are strong advocates on behalf of mothers and fathers who want to establish parentage. We have handled these types of cases for over three decades, and we have in-depth knowledge of this area of the law. We are honest, straightforward, compassionate, and detail-oriented. In addition, we focus on providing highly personalized legal representation for each client we serve.

Establishing Paternity/Parentage in Illinois

When parents are married at the time of the birth of a child, it is presumed under the law that the husband is the father of the child. This gives him all the legal rights and responsibilities of a father. However, if the father is not married to the mother when the child is born, there are no such presumptions, and parentage must be established.

If both parties are in agreement on who the father of the child is, parentage can be established by having both parents complete and sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP). When the parents do not agree on who the father of the child is, there are two options:

• Obtain an Administrative Paternity Order from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS).
• Obtain a court order establishing parentage.

It is important to note that a DHFS order only deals with parentage and child support. Matters such as allocation of parental responsibilities and visitation rights are not addressed by the DHFS.

In cases where there is a dispute between two parties, DNA testing can be used to resolve the matter. DNA tests can be performed voluntarily, or the court may compel the party in question to undergo the test. For fathers, the process of establishing parentage and becoming more involved with the lives of their children can be confusing and intimidating. Many believe the courts will automatically side with the mother. This is not always the case, however. The courts recognize that having both parents involved is most often in the best interests of the child, and they often decide accordingly.

Contact Our Hillside Paternity Lawyer

At the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C., we have a strong track record of success handling even the most complex paternity/parentage cases, including those in which a client seeks to take custody of a child from a mother they believe is unfit. In such cases, we put our experience to work to thoroughly examine all possibilities for a favorable resolution.

We offer free consultations, and we take cases not only in Cook County and DuPage County, but also in all other counties throughout the Chicagoland area. To schedule a personalized consultation with our experienced family law attorney, contact our office today at 708-449-7404.