Lanter Legal

Call Today: 216-273-4013

Lanter Legal

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Your Advocates In Achieving Effective Family Law Solutions

Experienced Lakewood Paternity Lawyers

Establishing paternity is the critical first step for unmarried Lakewood parents who want to secure their parental rights and responsibilities. Without legal recognition of parenthood, fathers cannot seek custody or parenting time and mothers may struggle to obtain child support.

Lanter Legal, LLC, helps unmarried parents throughout Lakewood and Cuyahoga County establish paternity and develop parenting plans that work for their families. Our attorneys bring over 30 years of combined family law experience to each case. We listen to what you need and help you understand the legal steps to get there.

Establishing Paternity In Ohio

Paternity establishes the legal father-child relationship, giving both parents access to important rights. In Ohio, married couples have their parentage recognized automatically, but unmarried parents must take additional steps to secure these protections.

Ohio law provides these main pathways for establishing paternity:

  • Voluntary acknowledgment through signing a form at the hospital when the child is born, giving the father immediate legal rights and responsibilities
  • Court-ordered paternity through filing a legal action that may include DNA testing to confirm biological parentage
  • Legal standing for custody once paternity is established, allowing fathers to pursue parenting time and participate in decisions about their child’s upbringing

Mothers benefit from established paternity because it creates a legal pathway to obtain financial support. Our child support lawyer can guide you through and explain how paternity affects your rights.

Rights And Responsibilities After Paternity Is Established

Once paternity is confirmed, unmarried parents have access to legal options that protect their relationship with their children:

  • Custody arrangements that determine where the child lives and who makes major decisions.
  • Parenting time schedules outline when each parent spends time with the child.
  • Child support obligations are calculated based on Ohio guidelines.

When calculating support amounts, the court considers each parent’s income, the number of children, health care costs and child care expenses. Our child support attorney can assist with modifications if your financial situation changes. We also develop thorough parenting plans that address time-sharing, decision-making and other important parts of co-parenting.

Get The Legal Help You Need

Lanter Legal, LLC, has a unique approach to family law matters. We seek to solve problems, not create them. Our lawyers encourage resolving disputes through mediation when possible. This gives you more control over outcomes and reduces conflict.

Whether you need to establish paternity, create a custody arrangement or obtain child support, we listen to what you need. Call us at 216-273-4013 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation at our Lakewood office.