Representing Unmarried Parents in Colorado
An increasing number of family law cases involve parents who were never married. In Colorado, children have a right to be supported by both parents regardless of whether their parents are married or not. In addition, unmarried parents have the same child custody and visitation rights as married parents. But, a determination of paternity must be made before the father is given equal rights to custody and before the mother can seek financial support.
At the law firm of Stowell, P.C. in Lone Tree, Colorado, our lawyers represent both unmarried mothers and unmarried fathers in paternity claims.
Establishing Paternity in Colorado
If both parents agree who the father is, then the court will establish paternity accordingly, letting the parties sign a document that is then approved and filed. If the parents do not agree, however, the court will order a DNA test to determine who the father is.
Once paternity is legally established (either by consent or DNA testing), the court can assign parental rights and responsibilities including:
- The mother can obtain child support per Colorado's guidelines.
- The father can seek child custody and visitation rights.
If there is a court order providing visitation rights to the father, the mother cannot remove the child from Colorado without approval of the father or permission from the court.
What if I Am Not the Biological Father? A paternity test can also be used to disestablish paternity if you are being asked to pay child support for a child who is not yours.
Schedule an Attorney Consultation
To discuss your paternity actions with a lawyer at Stowell, P.C., call 888-353-9358 or fill out our contact form. From our office in Lone Tree, Colorado, we represent clients in the Denver metropolitan area and throughout Douglas, El Paso and Pueblo counties.
