Child Custody and Visitation Attorney in Los Angeles, California

Paternity & Visitation: I got me ex-girlfriend pregnant. How can I get visitation rights?

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So if you’re a potential father in California, you’re able to apply to the court under a parentage action to establish your paternity or your parentage. So there are multiple different ways by which you can establish parentage in California. For example, if you’re not married, and it’s a true paternity situation, you can sign a judgement at the time of the child’s birth at the hospital. You will want to be sure of course that you are the actual natural father at that point before you do that, because that’s a conclusive judgement in California.

So there are other ways to establish paternity though in case you were not there and you did not do that, such as holding yourself out as the father, taking the child into your home. So again, it’s very fact-specific in terms of establishing your rights to the child, which can be done vis-à-vis DNA, it can be done vis-à-vis conduct. So you definitely want to consult with a lawyer on the specifics of your case and the background of it to find out the best way for you to go to court, establish parentage. Once you do that, you then have custodial rights and visitation rights. So that’s your best bet.

Los Angeles, CA family law attorney Robyn C. Santucci talks about how you can get visitation rights if you have a baby with your now ex-girlfriend. She explains that if you are a potential father in California, you have the option to seek court intervention through a parentage action to establish your paternity or parentage. California provides multiple avenues for establishing parentage. For instance, if you are unmarried and it is a genuine paternity situation, you can sign a conclusive judgment at the time of the child’s birth in the hospital. However, it is crucial to ensure that you are indeed the biological father before proceeding with this step.

In case you were not present or did not sign such a judgment, there are alternative methods to establish paternity. These can include holding yourself out as the father and welcoming the child into your home. The determination of your rights to the child depends on the specific facts and circumstances of your case, including DNA evidence or your conduct. It is highly advisable to consult with a lawyer who can evaluate the details of your case and guide you on the best approach to go to court and establish parentage. Once you establish parentage, you will gain custodial rights and visitation rights, providing you with a legal basis to participate in your child’s life. Seeking legal advice is your best course of action in this situation.

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