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SANTO MEHAS A Professional Law Corporation SANTO MEHAS A Professional Law Corporation
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Paternity Guiding You Through Difficult Times

Ventura Paternity Attorneys

Fighting for Father's Rights in CA

California paternity cases are called actions to determine parental relationships to establish who the child’s legal father is. You might need to determine paternity in the event you and your partner were not married at the time your child was born. This will need to be established before the father is legally entitled to child custody, child support, or visitation rights. A father has no legal rights or responsibilities to care for his child until paternity has been determined.

As the mother of a child, you might want to establish paternity to obtain a child support order for your child. As the father of a child, you might want to establish paternity to solidify your parental rights. Regardless of the situation, you should speak with an experienced lawyer to help you understand your rights.

How Do You Establish Paternity in California?

You can establish paternity in California by signing a Declaration of Paternity or obtaining a court order. A Declaration of Paternity is a legal document signed voluntarily by both legal parents of the child. Typically, this is signed right after the child is born at the hospital.

If a father is unsure whether a child is his, he has the right to ask the court for a paternity test. He should not sign the Declaration of Paternity until he knows the results of this test.

Why Would You Want to Establish Paternity?

The main reason for establishing paternity is to obtain custody of a child.

Additional benefits include:

  • The right to inherit from each parent
  • Gaining access to family medical history and records
  • Health insurance coverage from each parent

Who Can Request a Paternity Order Submission?

A paternity order request can also be submitted through California court. The individuals who can make this type of paternity request are as follows:

  • The child’s mother
  • The “alleged” father – the man who believes he is the father of the child
  • An adoption agency

What Happens if a Married Woman Gets Pregnant with Another Man’s Child?

If a married woman gets pregnant with another man’s child who is not her husband, paternity can get complicated. In California, if a child is born, the couple were married, and they were cohabiting at the time of conception and birth, a presumption arises that the child is a child of the marriage.

The presumption may be challenged within two years of the child’s birth upon application and genetic testing.

Turn to Our Ventura Paternity Lawyers with Your Questions

As you can see, marriage often trumps paternity in the state of California. If you have questions or concerns regarding the paternity of your child, or you need assistance establishing who the father is, contact our experienced lawyers today.

It is important to handle a paternity case as soon as the child is born as these types of cases take a significant amount of time to work through. Matters such as child custody, visitation, child support and financial issues must all be taken into consideration. Do not hesitate to call us today to get started on your case.

Contact us online or call us at (805) 222-7818 to book a consultation to discuss your paternity case. 

An Emphasis on Strong Family Values

Our firm places a strong emphasis on the importance of family values. The balance between maintaining these family values and generating a better future for you and your family is one we strive to achieve with each case. Our values consist of:
  • Holistic Approach

    We aim to resolve conflict so you and your family can move on peacefully. We approach all aspects of a case, including the emotional, financial, and mental components, and advocate with you throughout.

  • Collaboration

    Collaborative divorce can be a great option for spouses looking to share joint custody of their child/children and the court looks favorably on this decision. When possible, we strive to come to a resolution that will benefit both spouses.

  • Children Come First

    We respect the fact that our clients trust us with important life-decisions. We strive to be as understanding and empathetic as we can with you and treat you like we would treat a close family member.

  • Compassionate Legal Services

    We respect the fact that our clients trust us with important life-decisions. We strive to be as understanding and empathetic as we can with you and treat you like we would treat a close family member.

Our Satisfied Clients

Real Stories from Real People
  • “I would recommend him to anyone who needs a good attorney.”

    I am lucky to have had Michael Mehas handle my family law child custody and visitation matter, personal injury, and business and employment matters, and he's the only attorney I've ever used. He's very compassionate in what he does and combines many years of experience with a great understanding of the law. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a good attorney.

    - Molly C.
  • “A knowledgeable attorney with a strong character and ethical integrity.”

    Thank you Michael for everything you have done for me. You are a knowledgeable attorney with a strong character and ethical integrity.

    - Donald T.
  • “If you think you need help, you do and I recommend this firm.”
    If you think you need help, you do and I recommend this firm. After a very sticky situation in court, Donna and Michael came in and saved the day on short notice. Not only are they a very knowledgeable firm but truly care about their clients. They take the time to listen and in turn explain the legal side to bridge the gap in feelings vs law.
    - Bonnie V.
  • “Donna obtained a good result for me, for which I am ever grateful.”

    I met Donna Santo over 20 years ago, when I needed an attorney to represent me in a post-judgment custody dispute trailing across three states due to my nomadic military background. As prior military I had a great respect for the courts. I met Donna first, and she scared me. But of course that was what I wanted: a sharp, assertive attorney. The onset of that custodial dispute marks one of the most horrible periods of my life. Fortunately, Donna and her team were my guides as well as my advocates. To this day, when on occasion I have needed a family law attorney, I have called Donna. She has always obtained a good result for me.

    - Carla H.
  • “a special Thank You”
    Santo Mehas is a very helpful and understanding group to to work with- and a special Thank You to Michael for all your support.
    - Gail F.
  • “Santo Mehas is the law firm you want on your side.”
    If you have to go through divorce and child custody, Santo Mehas is the law firm you want on your side. Both lawyers are very professional and knowledgeable yet caring and want the best for their clients. They work hard for their clients at every level and go above and beyond to make their clients relaxed and comfortable with the family law processes.
    - Jasmin R.
  • “Donna is the consummate professional and I would recommend her to anyone with divorce or family law issues.”
    “I came to Donna due to her strong reputation and extensive understanding in the area of family law. Based upon her very knowledgeable advice, I was able to settle my case without the time and expense of having to go to court.”
    - Dave D.
  • “Donna fought for me and she will fight for you.”
    I have a pretty complicated case that needed a lot of things done quickly and Donna was able to not only get them done but she knocked it out of the park and I am very happy with the outcome. She is also great at communicating things throughout the process in a way that I could understand.
    - Wayne