St. Louis, Missouri Paternity Attorney
At The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C., we regularly assist unmarried parents in establishing orders of custody and support with respect to their minor children. "Paternity" applies to any situation where a child is born outside of marriage. In Missouri and Illinois, as in most states, when a child is born out of wedlock, without taking appropriate legal measures, a mother in this situation has no ability to make the father of her child provide financial support, and the father has no ability to make the mother of his child provide custodial access. If you find yourself in such a situation, The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. can help.
Questions about paternity? You're not alone. Missouri in particular, has recently changed its paternity laws in important ways. Find the answers and information you need to know at our law firm. Call 314-993-6300 schedule a consultation or, contact us online and a lawyer from our office will respond to your e-mail shortly.
Handling Paternity Actions for Mothers and Fathers Alike
Whether you're a mother seeking child support, a father seeking parental rights to custody or visitation, or a man who wants to challenge their presumed status as the father of a child — we can help.
If you are a father seeking parental rights, please remember that you have a limited window of time in which to formally claim paternity by filing a paternity action in the appropriate court.
If you are a mother seeking support, please remember that you have a limited window of time within which to claim all the support, including costs related to pregnancy and childbirth, to which you may be entitled.
In either case, time is of the essence.
In establishing paternity, sometimes the parents agree on the natural father, whose name may already appear on the child's birth certificate. In other cases, one or even both parents may disagree on the identity of the natural father, in which case DNA testing will be required to make a clear determination.
In determining an appropriate custodial plan, parents may want shared or "joint" custody or "sole" custody, and this arrangement may be different for legal custody and physical custody. "Legal custody" refers to make decisions regarding the health, education and welfare of the minor child. "Physical custody" refers to the actual periods of time one parent has the minor child under his or her care or supervision. The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. will help you craft a Parenting Plan that meets the custodial rights appropriate for your situation.
In determining an appropriate amount of child support, the court looks to a variety of factors, including but not limited to the relative incomes of the parties, the costs of childcare and who provides that care, the cost of health insurance and who provides that insurance, and the amount of time the child spends in each parent's physical custody. The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. will advocate for you the appropriate amount of child support in your situation.
Paternity involves a wide and sometimes complex array of issues. Obtaining a successful outcome in a paternity case requires an attorney with significant knowledge and experience in handling paternity cases. We at The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. have over 50 years combined experience in handling paternity cases.
Time to Act
Time is of the essence. As soon as you select The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. to represent you, we will immediately put our considerable experience and resources to bear on your case. The sooner we can review all the necessary information, the sooner we can formulate a strategy for your unique circumstances, helping to ensure the best possible outcome.
Your future is at stake. Make the right call and contact us today at (314) 993-6300. There is no charge for the initial consultation - and the only obligation is the one you have to yourself to gain the best representation possible.
We Practice Throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area
For a top notch law firm without the inconvenience of downtown St. Louis or Clayton traffic, call The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. We practice throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County, St. Charles County, the City of St. Louis, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Warren County, Franklin County, Madison County - Illinois, St. Clair County - Illinois, and Monroe County - Illinois.
Phone consultations and Saturday appointments available.
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.
