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 if 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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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“Donna is a fantastic attorney!”
- EduardoCan’t get a better attorney than Donna Santo. Donna is a fantastic attorney! She was able to comprehend the complications associated with nasty child custody problems and bitter divorce disputes. Donna and her staff were and continue to be extremely caring and empathetic to my family’s needs. I hold Donna with the utmost respect and recommend her to anybody who needs a knowledgeable and savvy attorney.
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“I highly recommend using them!”
- Kirstie D.Donna Santo and Michael William Mehas have been amazing to work with. Very professional, knowledgeable , and kind. They helped me with a custody case and my family and I couldn’t be happier.
They were a blessing to us and we will forever appreciate them.
Thank you so much ❤️!
I highly recommend using them!
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“5 stars is not enough.”
5 stars is not enough. Mr. Mehas and Ms. Santo are the A team of attorneys. They are comprehensive, strategic, one step ahead, and a powerful team! When you hire the Santo Mehas firm to manage your case, you have hired a team of legal advocates who care, who will keep you informed, who will fight for you, and be the voice you need to represent you. Without the help of the entire firm, I know that I would not have had the successful outcomes I have had. They took on an extremely difficult case and encountered issues that no one expected and few had ever seen. They worked tirelessly to make sure that the truth was told and presented it perfectly. They stood by every one of my requests and guided me through the entire lengthy process. Though there were challenges, they strategically and diligently with compassion met them head on and never faltered. Their expertise and thoroughness provided us the pathway we needed to rise to victory. I am proud to be a client and will continue to retain them for all legal matters that may arise as I know I am in the best hands.- Christy B. -
“Donna and Michael are outstanding”
Donna and Michael are outstanding, I was referred to their office and as soon as I retained their services the legal nightmare I was in was over and the tone changed from the other party immediately. Donna will not lead you into a false sense in pursuing an unrealistic outcome. Donna achieved a very fair ruling and straightened out lots of dishonesty in my case against the other party which was much needed.- John H. -
“I highly recommend Donna Santo and the Santo Mehas law firm.”
“I highly recommend Donna Santo and the Santo Mehas law firm.”- John J. -
“There is no other choice than Michael and Donna!”
“There is no other choice than Michael and Donna!”- Gina G. -
“Thank you, Michael, you're a true professional and a very good attorney.”
- Judy M.We had a real legal emergency at our business and Michael Mehas was there to immediately respond to the other side, allowing us to resolve our matter favorably. Thank you, Michael, you're a true professional and a very good attorney, and I would recommend you for any business or other legal matter.
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“Donna Santo is a no nonsense, highly professional family attorne”
- ScottDonna Santo is a no nonsense, highly professional family attorney. She has many years of experience which I found to be critical when it came to working in the family court system. She has had experience with all the judges and therefore quickly formulates a plan that is realistic, and has the best chance of success. You could not make a better choice to help you through this incredibly difficult situation.
