Nonmarried Parents’ Rights In New Jersey
Many unmarried parents in New Jersey find themselves in a situation where a formal paternity process, as well as a child support and parenting time arrangement is necessary. Whether you are the parent of a newborn child and need to establish paternity, or whether your relationship with the other parent has changed and you need a legally enforceable order, our team of lawyers can guide you through the process.
Oftentimes, parents move apart in their own lifestyles and have no child custody or child support plan in place. In other situations, unmarried parents need to establish formal arrangements for a newborn child when the parents are not legally bound to each other with a traditional marriage. Similarly, situations arise where an alleged father disputes a biological connection to the child and refuses to sign a Certificate of Parentage to acknowledge paternity.
Establishing Paternity For Unmarried Parents
Regardless of whether a deep dispute between nonmarried parents exists, or whether the issues involve navigating the child support and child custody process, we are here to help. The attorneys at Cipriano Law Offices, P.C., have decades of experience working with a variety of nonmarried couples as they seek to work through their custody and support issues.
Nonmarried parents may need to establish paternity as the first step in pursuing a child support order and/or a child custody plan. Fathers may acknowledge paternity under New Jersey law through signing a Certificate of Parentage. This document needs to be filed with the proper child support authority. We can help you to ensure that all of the proper steps are taken and finalized to have a legally enforceable order in place.
When a dispute regarding biological fatherhood exists, a court-ordered DNA test may be necessary to resolve the dispute. We aggressively represent individuals in all aspects of paternity, child custody and child support matters.
It is important for mothers who want to establish a formal child support arrangement — or fathers who want a formalized and legally sound child custody arrangement and parenting time schedule — to work with an experienced legal team. In all instances, paternity establishes the legal framework for unmarried parents to set forth the legal rights and responsibilities of their parent-child relationships.
Child Support And Child Custody Solutions For Unmarried Parents
Child support is intended to give a child the financial means necessary to live a healthy childhood that is full of opportunity. Child custody, or parenting time, allows the child to develop a strong relationship with both parents as he or she develops into a successful adult. This may come in the form of either shared parenting or joint custody.
Looking Out For The Child’s Best Interests
Any decisions that are made regarding child support or custody are always made on behalf of the child’s best interests. We are wholly committed to this ideal. While we understand the complexity of relationships between two parents, we also respect the needs of their child. We will help you understand what steps must be taken to give your child the resources and parenting schedule time that he or she deserves.
At Cipriano Law Offices, P.C., based in West Caldwell, we take a team approach when working with our clients throughout northern New Jersey. We understand that each family dynamic is different, and we customize our services to meet your unique needs. We fight to obtain optimal results for each client. Your life should be spent caring for and growing with your children, not in a courtroom. We represent individuals on either side of these family law issues, as well as serve as third-party mediators for unmarried parents seeking to resolve custody and support matters.
Contact Cipriano Law Offices, P.C.
To learn more about nonmarried parents’ rights in Essex County and northern New Jersey, you may email us or call 973-852-3346 to schedule an initial consultation.