Birmingham Paternity Lawyer
Helping Fathers and Mothers in St. Clair, Jefferson, Shelby, and Shelby Counties
Fathers across Alabama have the right to seek child custody and visitation rights when a child is born out of wedlock. Children have the right to maintain a relationship with both parents, and courts will work to help make this a reality. In some cases, however, parents must work out their custody and visitation arrangements through the court system. If you are a father who is concerned about your parental rights, it may be time to speak with a Birmingham family lawyer. At Ruth Robinson Law Firm, we can help you explore your options and work to protect your parental rights.
Contact us to discuss your case. We are located in Birmingham, but we serve clients throughout Alabama.
Establishing Paternity for Father's Rights
Paternity is the legal determination of a child's biological father. A father can be recognized as a child's legal parent through:
- An acknowledgment of paternity – the father signs an affidavit stating that he is the child's father
- A court order – a judge may order the mother to submit to genetic testing to establish the father's biological relationship to the child
- Marriage – if the child's mother is married at the time of the child's birth, the husband is considered the child's legal parent
It is a father's right to obtain a determination of paternity. However, a mother may file a petition with the court to establish paternity if she suspects that the child's father is not the mother's husband. This is known as a paternity action, and it is the mother who initiates the proceeding.
Establishing paternity can have an impact on a father's parental rights – if the father is married to the mother, he will generally have all the same rights as a biological father. However, if the father is not married to the mother, he will not be considered the child's legal parent and will not have any legal rights or responsibilities unless he signs an affidavit of paternity or a court orders him to be the child's legal parent.
Alabama Paternity Laws
In Alabama, a child's mother is required to notify the child's father of his paternity rights within 60 days of the child's birth. The mother may do so by either:
- Notifying the father in writing and sending the notice by certified mail
- Informing the father of his paternity rights in person
If the mother chooses to not comply with the notification requirement, the father may file a paternity action with the court to establish his paternity.
Contact Our Team Today
Speak with a Birmingham paternity lawyer at Ruth Robinson Law Firm if you are concerned about your parental rights. We can help you explore your options and work to protect your parental rights.
Contact us online or call (205) 984-1915 today to schedule an initial consultation. We are located in Birmingham, but serve clients throughout Alabama.
-
“Great lawyer and dedicated to justice for her clients.”
- JamesMrs Robinson is dedicated to Justice and fairness. She is knowledgeable. And honest. She is the best investigative lawyer I've ever known. She don't stop until Justice is served. Mrs Robinson is honest and reasonable and will tell you the truth. Her courtroom knowledge is second to none. She is family oriented. Has a great attitude and is all around a special person. I would recommend her to any one.
-
“She communicated with me throughout the process.”
She got pretrial diversion for me in my case. She communicated with me throughout the process. She also did not have to return to court with me for the final step but she did!- LeAnn -
“GETS RESULTS!!!! PHENOMENAL ATTORNEY!”
I have personally watched Ms. Robinson in open court, and she is exactly what you want! She is THE quintessential attorney! Don't hesitate to contact her, she will immediately start working and your case, and she won't disappoint!- David -
“She went above and beyond”
Due to a misunderstanding, a warrant was issued in Alabama, even though we live in Virginia and hadn't been to Alabama for many years. We were apprehensive about the possibility of traveling to Alabama during these uncertain times. Luckily, Ms. Robinson was able to quickly and professionally interact with local law enforcement and the district attorney's office to get the case dismissed without us having to be there. Throughout her handling of the case, she went above and beyond to make sure we were aware she was doing everything in her power to assist us. We are deeply appreciative of her and her efforts and would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone needing representation.- Lynn -
“Amazing and highly recommended.”
I contacted Ruth Robinson on a Saturday regarding a warrant that was issued for failure to appear. On Monday, she filed a notice of appearance as my attorney and filed a motion to have the warrant recalled. The court told her they’d recall the warrant and set a new court date. Ruth was very professional, diligent, and went above and beyond for me. She listened to everything I told her, requested me to send her several screenshots and filed the necessary paperwork to get the warrant recalled and a new court date. Amazing and highly recommended if you want or need someone who is passionate about practicing law and treating you like you’re a priority.- Terry -
“I trust her completely and she has always worked hard for me.”
Ruth Robinson is a thorough and passionate criminal defense attorney. When I found myself facing criminal charges for something that was completely bogus in a corrupt governmental atmosphere, she has worked with me diligently and continues to do so. I trust her completely and she has always worked hard for me. Better than any attorney I could ask for through and through.- Anonymous
