Michigan Divorce Attorney Jannelle Zawaideh

Paternity can become a contentious subject for some people. Whether you're involved in a divorce case where paternity has become a question, or you were never married to the other parent, you have options. Michigan laws can be complicated, though, and you shouldn't be expected to handle everything all on your own. By calling The Law Offices of Jannelle J. Zawaideh for a free consultation, you can take the first step toward getting your questions answered. If you're a woman wanting to establish paternity for your child, or you're a man questioning paternity of your child, we're the people to call.

As paternity attorneys, we can help you get through everything the right way, so you aren't left with legal questions and nagging concerns. It's important to have paternity properly established, as well, because it can affect everything from child support to health status. In Michigan, a married woman who has a child will find that her spouse is automatically assumed to be the father. In most cases, he is. However, if the woman was unfaithful, there is a chance that the child might not be the husbands's from a biological standpoint.

If the spouses were to divorce, the ex-husband would be paying child support for a child that was not his. Meanwhile, another man who did father the child would not have a legal obligation to support that child. Determining paternity can help clear up issues and problems that come along with those types of scenarios. It is not generally difficult to determine paternity, and a simple DNA test can provide the answers a person is looking for. Your lawyer can help you arrange for the test, and can work with you on what can be done if the man in question refuses to take the test or cannot be found.

If you're a man being asked to pay child support and don't believe that the child is yours, a paternity test is a good choice for you, as well. It will either establish paternity or rule it out, allowing you to address the issue of the child support obligation. Keep in mind, however, that you also need your lawyer to arrange the right experts and others who can testify to the validity of the test. Taking an at-home test is not going to be sufficient evidence for a judge, and the ruling of paternity must be handled properly.

We have argued hundreds of Michigan paternity cases, so we know what kind of information and evidence the judge is looking for in paternity cases. Whether you're trying to prove paternity or you're disputing it, we can help you. Call our offices today, and we can consult with you for free. That will help you know the next steps to take, so you can decide how to proceed. Knowing what your options are is half the battle.