Paternity and Unmarried Parents' Issues in Arizona
State law draws very few distinctions between married and unmarried parents when it comes to protecting the rights of children or resolving disputes between parents. That is because the state is always seeking to protect the best interests of the child, regardless of the relationship status of the parents. The child of unmarried parents needs to be housed and fed, and a single mother or father still needs a stable and secure relationship with the child. At the Law Offices of Scott David Stewart, we are experienced in helping our clients protect their rights and their children in paternity and unmarried parent disputes.
Call 928-252-3996 to schedule an appointment with an experienced family law attorney or contact us by e-mail. We are committed to protecting your rights and your family.
Paternity Actions
In the age of DNA testing, paternity actions to establish the identity of a child's father aren't what they used to be. Determining paternity is usually the simplest issue in a child custody and support case. Our attorneys are experienced in representing mothers and fathers seeking to protect their rights and the best interests of the child in a paternity action.
State Paternity Actions for Child Support
If you're facing a paternity action initiated by the state to recover child support, there are two good reasons for obtaining legal advice. First, you'll probably be better off negotiating a plan for back payments and future obligations than you'll be in fighting the garnishment of what might be overstated support claims. Second, a state-initiated paternity action won't result in custody or parenting time unless you intervene on your own behalf or through counsel. Our attorneys know how to take appropriate, strategic action to protect your rights and financial well-being in paternity cases.
We are experienced in unmarried parents' disputes involving:
- Paternity actions
- Child support
- Disputes over parental rights
- Grandparents' rights
- Step-parent adoptions
- Physical and legal custody determinations
Advocacy for Unmarried Mothers and Fathers
Our attorneys advise unmarried mothers and fathers about the most effective ways of resolving disagreements over physical custody, legal custody and important decisions about a child's education, health care or recreational activities. We understand that unmarried parents face additional complications affecting their relationship and their child. Just as in divorce cases, a court will resolve a dispute according to the best interests of the children involved. Our attorneys know that parents can retain more reliable control over the process when they can negotiate and agree to reasonable arrangements.
For more information please call 928-252-3996 or contact us by e-mail to arrange an initial consultation or case evaluation. Our lawyers are dedicated to providing experienced comprehensive legal service to clients in Flagstaff and throughout Northern Arizona.