Roseville Paternity Lawyer

Paternity Attorney in Roseville, CA

When a child is born in Roseville, it’s important that both parents are legally identified. However, in some cases, paternity may be in question, and paternity must be established before a person can be required to pay child support or before a father can legally pursue a parental relationship with a child. These issues often arise during divorce or other family law matters. If you need help navigating paternity proceedings, an experienced Roseville paternity lawyer can guide you through your next steps.

About the Law Office of Sara S. Thompson, PC

At the Law Office of Sara S. Thompson, PC, we understand that family law matters like paternity can be emotional and contentious, as their results often carry immense weight on the future of the families involved. That’s why our founding attorney, Sara S. Thompson, has dedicated her career to protecting California families.

Our clients can expect one-on-one guidance from our team, because we believe that you deserve an attentive, supportive legal advocate as you navigate proceedings. Our goal is to help clients find fair resolutions to paternity issues outside of the courtroom. However, our lead attorney has the knowledge and experience needed to be a fierce litigator if the need should arise. 

Who Needs to Establish Paternity in California?

According to recent data from 2025, there were around 15.3 million children living with single mothers in the United States. Another 3.3 million children were found to be living with single fathers. When a child’s parents are both living but do not live together, there should be both custody and support arrangements in place to make sure both parents still share the responsibility of raising a child. Generally, California residents establish paternity if:

1. A man believes he is a child’s father and wants to establish a parental relationship.
2. A mother or other guardian wants to pursue a child’s alleged father for child support.
3. A man believes he was wrongfully named a child’s father and is making unfair support payments. 

If parents are not together and there is no father’s name on a child’s birth certificate, paternity must be established in order to obtain a court-ordered custody or child support arrangement.

How Is Paternity Established in California?

In the state of California, paternity is generally established by default at the time of a child’s birth. This is because when a child is born in California, parents are required to fill out a birth certificate that details information such as the child’s name and both of their parents. Once the form is complete, paternity is legally established.

When paternity is not established through a birth certificate, however, there are two other avenues parents in Roseville may take to rectify the situation:

• Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (VDOP). If both parents agree on who the child’s father is in California, they can both sign a document called a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage. In essence, this is the same as signing the child’s birth certificate when they are born, but it can be done at any time. Once the signed document is filed and processed with the estate, parentage is legally established.
• Court Determination of Parentage. If the parents disagree on who is the legal parent of a child, one parent can file a parentage case. In many parentage cases, judges order DNA testing to determine whether a person is the biological father of the child in question.

It is important to note that in California, a genetic relationship is not the only determining factor for who should be a legal parent. If a court determines that a man is not a child’s biological father, but he has been acting in a paternal capacity and failing to acknowledge his paternity would be detrimental to the child, the court may uphold the parental relationship even without a biological link.

When Should You Hire a Paternity Lawyer in Roseville?

Whether you are a father seeking to establish a legal relationship with your child or a mother attempting to obtain child support, you should hire a paternity lawyer as soon as you decide you want to enter legal proceedings. When you hire a paternity lawyer from the Law Office of Sara S. Thompson, PC, they can assist you through every step of your parentage case, from filing your initial claim to representing you in court.

FAQs About Paternity Law

Can You Be Required to Pay Child Support Without a DNA Match in California?

Yes, in some cases, a man may be required to make child support payments even without a positive DNA match in California. Even if a man denies he is a child’s biological father, if he has been acting as the child’s parent, if he was married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth, or if he initially signed a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage, he may be required to financially support the child as a legal parent.

What Should I Do If I Signed a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage, But Now I Don’t Believe I Am the Father?

If you signed a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage in California, but you now do not believe you are the child’s father, you should hire a paternity lawyer who can help you modify your legal parental relationship. You may be able to get a DNA test and argue that you signed the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage under false pretenses. An attorney can help you determine which steps are right for your case.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Paternity Lawyer in Roseville, California?

The cost to hire a paternity lawyer in Roseville, California, can vary significantly from case to case. Most attorneys set their own hourly rates and retainers, and those retainers often depend on the complexity of your case, whether litigation is required, the length of time it takes to resolve your case, and more. The retainer will be discussed at the time of your consultation.

Can a Child Have More Than Two Legally Recognized Parents in California?

Yes, it is possible for a child to have more than two legally recognized parents in California, although this arrangement is not common. One potential example is if one man has been acting as a child’s parent, and then another man claims paternity because he believes he is the child’s biological father. A court may allow both men to be legal parents in order to maintain the child’s stability.

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Work With a Trusted Roseville Paternity Lawyer

If you need help establishing paternity in Roseville, you need an experienced, knowledgeable attorney on your side. Contact the Law Office of Sara S. Thompson, PC, today to learn more about our trusted paternity services.