ARIZONA FAMILY LAW SERVICES

Establishing legal paternity is an important step in protecting the rights of both parents and children. Whether you are seeking to establish paternity, secure parenting time, determine legal decision-making, or obtain child support, I provide experienced legal guidance tailored to your family's needs  throughout Arizona's family court process. 

I represent mothers and fathers throughout Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, Phoenix, and surrounding Arizona communities in paternity matters.

A paternity case establishes the legal relationship between a father and a child when the parents were not married at the time of the child's birth. Once paternity is legally established, Arizona courts can determine important issues such as legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, and other parental rights and responsibilities.  Arizona's laws governing paternity can be found in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25, Sections 25-801 - 25-818.

Whether you are a mother seeking child support or a father seeking to establish parental rights, the outcome of a paternity case can have a lasting impact on your family. I provide experienced guidance to help clients understand the legal process and protect their interests at every stage of the case.

Establishing paternity does more than identify a child's legal father. It also allows the court to address important issues affecting both parents and the child. Depending on the circumstances, the court may determine:

Once paternity is established, the court may enter orders regarding legal decision-making and parenting time based on the child's best interests.  If you are preparing for a parenting time case, you may also find my article, How to Create an Arizona Parenting Plan That Works, helpful. 

The court may establish child support in accordance with the Arizona Child Support Guidelines, taking into account each parent's income, parenting time, and other relevant factors.

The court may allocate responsibility for health insurance, uninsured medical expenses, and other costs related to the child's care.

Every family's circumstances are unique. I work closely with clients to develop practical solutions that protect their parental rights while promoting the best interests of their child.

Establishing paternity can have a lasting impact on both parents and children. Whether you are seeking to establish parental rights, obtain child support, or resolve issues involving legal decision-making and parenting time, you deserve experienced legal guidance tailored to your family's unique circumstances.

For more than 35 years, I have helped Arizona families navigate complex family law matters with practical advice, honest communication, and personalized representation. I take the time to understand your goals, explain your legal options, and develop a strategy focused on protecting your rights and your child's best interests.

Whether your case is resolved through agreement or requires litigation, I am committed to providing compassionate, responsive representation every step of the way.

Yes. Arizona law allows paternity to be established even if the parents were never married. Once paternity is legally established, the court can address issues such as legal decision-making, parenting time, and child support.

No. Establishing paternity gives the court the authority to determine parental rights and responsibilities, but parenting time and legal decision-making are decided separately based on the child's best interests.

Yes. Once paternity is established, the court may enter child support orders consistent with the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. Support is determined based on several factors, including each parent's income and parenting time.

In many cases, yes. Parents are often able to resolve issues involving paternity, parenting time, legal decision-making, and child support through negotiation or mediation. When an agreement cannot be reached, I provide experienced representation throughout the court process.