Paternity Attorney in Franklin, Tennessee
Establishing Legal Parentage for Middle Tennessee Families Since 1997
When a child is born to unmarried parents in Tennessee, the law gives the mother automatic custody. Until paternity is legally established, a biological father has no enforceable rights to custody or visitation, and the mother has no legal basis to pursue child support. For both parents, the absence of a legal determination leaves the child without a recognized father on the record.
Legal paternity changes that. Once parentage is established, the child gains a legal father, both parents’ rights and obligations become enforceable, and a court can address custody, visitation, and support in a single proceeding. The child also gains access to the father’s health insurance, Social Security benefits, and inheritance rights.
If you’re facing a paternity matter in Franklin or the surrounding area, Puryear, Newman & Morton, PLLC can help. Call us at (615) 933-2366 to speak with one of our family law attorneys.Our Paternity Practice in Franklin & Middle Tennessee
At Puryear, Newman & Morton, PLLC, we help clients establish or challenge paternity and handle the related child custody and child support matters that follow. Whether your situation calls for a straightforward acknowledgment or a contested court proceeding, our attorneys guide you through the process from start to resolution.
We’ve served Franklin, Nashville, Williamson County, and Middle Tennessee families since 1997, and our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined legal experience to every matter. We’re based in Franklin, and our attorneys are active members of the local community.
Two Ways to Establish Paternity in Tennessee
Tennessee law recognizes two routes to legal parentage. When both parents agree, a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity provides a straightforward administrative process. When parentage is disputed, a Petition to Establish Parentage opens a court proceeding where a judge resolves the question.
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity
A Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity requires signatures from both parents and must be notarized. It can be completed at the hospital at the time of birth or later through the local health department, a child support office, or the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Once signed and filed with Vital Records, the acknowledgment carries the same legal weight as a court order.
Petition to Establish Parentage
When parents disagree, either parent, the child, or the Tennessee Department of Human Services can file a Petition to Establish Parentage in the county where the mother, father, or child resides. In Williamson County, these petitions between unmarried parents are filed with the Juvenile Court.
In a contested case, the court may order genetic testing under Tennessee Code Annotated 24-7-112. Test results showing a 95% or greater statistical probability of paternity create a rebuttable presumption of fatherhood, and the case is tried before the court rather than a jury. When results reach 99% or greater, the case can become harder to contest, because the law limits the father to a narrow set of statutory defenses that must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. The standard of proof throughout a contested case is a preponderance of the evidence.
One statutory fact worth knowing: under Tennessee Code Annotated 36-2-306, an action to establish parentage can be filed before a child is born or at any time up to three years after the child reaches the age of majority, which means generally until the child turns 21. Tennessee also maintains a putative father registry, which lets a man who believes he may be a child’s father file a notice of intent to claim paternity and preserve his right to notice of any future adoption proceeding involving the child.
Our attorneys are experienced in both the voluntary and court-based processes, and we help clients understand each step before it happens.
What a Parentage Order Establishes
A court’s order of parentage does more than name a legal father. Under Tennessee Code Annotated 36-2-311, the order must also address the child’s name on the birth certificate, custody and visitation under Tennessee’s custody statutes, and child support under the state’s support guidelines. Everything flows from a single determination.
Representing Mothers, Fathers & Children in Franklin-Area Paternity Cases
Our attorneys represent mothers, fathers, and other parties in both contested and uncontested paternity matters throughout Franklin, Williamson County, and Middle Tennessee. We’re familiar with the procedures of the Williamson County Juvenile Court as well as the Chancery and Circuit Courts, and we handle the custody and child support questions that arise once parentage is confirmed.
Under Tennessee Code Annotated 36-2-313, a child whose parentage is legally established is entitled to inherit from the father as if born in wedlock. That determination has lasting consequences for the child’s financial future, not just the immediate custody and support picture.
Because we handle family law across the board, a client who comes to us to establish paternity doesn’t need to find separate counsel when the custody or support phase begins. Those matters stay with the same team that handled the parentage case.
To discuss your situation with one of our Franklin family law attorneys, call Puryear, Newman & Morton, PLLC at (615) 933-2366 or reach us through our contact form. We can help you understand your options and take the right next step.
A Reputation for Excellence
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ExperienceOur attorneys have over 100 years of combined legal experience.
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DedicatedOur attorneys are dedicated to serving the needs of it's clients in a professional, ethical, and caring manner.
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DiverseWe are a full-service law firm with skilled attorneys who have years of experience handling specific areas of law.
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Rooted In the CommunityOur firm has been serving the people of Franklin for over 20 years and have an excellent reputation within the community.