Prepare Essential Documents for Your Paternity Case
Hello, I’m Oklahoma City family law attorney Dillan Savage with Wirth Law Office, and I practice primarily in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area. Today we’re going to talk about the information you should bring with you—or have ready—that will make things easier for both you and your attorney when opening a paternity matter.
For those who may not be familiar, a paternity matter involves two individuals who have had a child or children together but were not married at the time of the birth. In Oklahoma, if the parents were not married when the child was born, the father is not automatically recognized as the legal parent. To address this and ensure the father receives legal rights and responsibilities, you would need to open a paternity case.
You can open a paternity case even when both parties are getting along. Or, you can open one later if disagreements arise about custody or parenting time. Through this process, the court will adjudicate—or legally recognize—the father’s rights and responsibilities.
Key Information to Gather
Now, what information should you bring to your first meeting with an attorney?
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- The full names of both parents
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- The number of children involved, their initials, and dates of birth
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- The addresses of both parents, which helps determine venue and jurisdiction
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- A record of where the child or children have lived for the past five years and with whom
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- Whether the child or children are tribal members
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- Where the child or children are currently living
For child support purposes:
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- Bring documentation of your gross monthly income—pay stubs or tax returns are ideal
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- If you pay for private health insurance instead of using SoonerCare, bring those details as well
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- If a child support case is already open, be sure to bring the case number
Having all this information ready can significantly simplify the process for your attorney and help ensure your case moves forward smoothly.
Get Started With a Low-Cost Consultation
If you found this information helpful or believe it could help someone else, please visit TheOklahomaCityAttorney.com. My name is Dillan Savage, and I’m the Oklahoma City paternity attorney. Thank you for watching. For personalized assistance, call us today at 405-888-5400 for a low-cost consultation.
