Jackson Paternity Lawyers

Helping Fathers Pursue Their Rights & Protect Their Interests

No father wants to be left out of a child's life. Unfortunately, it happens quite often. Sometimes the mother of a child will deny a father's paternity or refuse to acknowledge him as the child's father. It is also common for a mother to hide the child's location from the father.

Whether you are the father or the mother, if you have questions about paternity, Chinn & Associates, PC, wants to help.

Our Jackson paternity lawyers are ready to provide you with the legal advice and guidance you need to pursue your rights and protect your interests.

Contact Chinn & Associates, PC for experienced legal representation from our Jackson paternity attorney. Call (601) 202-5594 today for an initial consultation.

What Is Paternity?

Paternity refers to the legal relationship between a father and a child.

In Mississippi, paternity can be either:

• In fact—when the father and mother agree that he is the father
• In law—when the father is identified as the father by the mother, by an order of the court, or when he admits that he is the father

How Do I Establish Paternity?

There are several ways to establish paternity in Mississippi. The method you choose will depend on the circumstances surrounding your paternity case.

Options for establishing paternity include:

• By filing a petition with the court
• By signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity
• By DNA testing

It is important to know that if you and the mother of your child are not married, you will not have any parental rights unless you establish paternity. A father who is not married to the mother of his child and has questions about paternity should speak with a Jackson paternity lawyer.

What Are the Benefits of Establishing Paternity?

When paternity is established, the father gains legal rights to his child. He will be able to seek custody, visitation, or other parental rights. He will also be responsible for child support.

While the mother is still the child's legal guardian, she can make decisions about the child's care, education, health, and religion. However, she cannot make decisions about the child's medical treatment or the child's residence without the father's permission.

Fathers who wish to have a relationship with their children, and mothers who wish to have their children spend time with their father, should establish paternity. Once paternity is established, fathers can also request that their child's last name be changed to include their last name.

Protecting Your Rights & Pursuing Your Interests

The issue of paternity can be complicated and emotionally charged. If you are the mother of a child or the father of a child, you may be feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Our paternity lawyers in Jackson are here to help you understand your legal options and pursue your rights and interests.

Our firm handles paternity cases in both state and federal court. We have helped thousands of clients resolve their paternity issues. For more than three decades, our family law firm has helped clients throughout the state of Mississippi resolve their legal issues.

For more information about paternity, contact our firm today. We offer flexible appointment options and accept Visa and MasterCard.

Contact Chinn & Associates, PC for experienced legal representation from our Jackson paternity attorney. Call (601) 202-5594 today for an initial consultation.