Riverside Fathers Rights Lawyer

Riverside Fathers Rights Attorney

Fathers deserve just as much support as mothers do during child custody or support proceedings. Working alongside an experienced Riverside fathers’ rights lawyer to establish paternity can help make sure your rights are legally protected.

Hire a Fathers’ Rights Lawyer Today

Michelanne Hrubic has years of experience helping clients with various family law cases. She understands the anxiety fathers may feel over their child custody and support cases, and is dedicated to helping them safeguard their rights as fathers.

Our team is here to support you in whatever way you need. We regularly represent our Riverside clients at the Riverside Family Law Courthouse, located at 4175 Main Street. Our skilled Riverside family law attorneys ensure that fathers receive equal representation in all family court matters.

Paternity Laws in California

In 2023, there were 1,440,031 births to unmarried women in America, making establishing paternity incredibly important. Paternity means fatherhood, and establishing paternity is the process of determining who the legal father of a child is. If the parents are married, paternity is usually automatic.

A Declaration of Paternity form can legally establish paternity for unmarried parents. If both parents sign it, it has the same effect as a court order. Paternity cases can be filed at any time to confirm a relationship. It’s important to hire a fathers’ rights lawyer to help you understand what laws apply to your unique case.

How Paternity Is Proven

Common reasons for paternity cases in California can include:

• A mother wants to identify the father to secure child support
• A father wants to establish legal rights, like custody or visitation
• Parents disagree about who the biological father is
• A child’s welfare benefits, such as Social Security, health insurance, or inheritance, depend on knowing who the father is
• A previously unknown father is later identified and needs to be added to the birth certificate

If the alleged father admits he is the father, or it can be proven that he is, the court will enter a judgment of paternity. If there is doubt about who the father is, the court will generally order genetic testing of the mother, child, and alleged father. The court must also inform the potential father that he has two years to request the cancellation of a parentage judgment. After this, the judgment cannot be overturned.

A court decision about whether a parent-child relationship exists is final. The law will then enforce parental obligations. In California, all parents must financially support their underage children. Not following a court order can result in contempt charges, which may include jail time. If you’re struggling with payment issues, our child support enforcement lawyer can help navigate compliance matters.

The court can later modify child support orders, but the parents must file for it. If you aren’t able to fulfill your child support payments, seek a modification as soon as possible to avoid noncompliance issues with the court. Our experienced child support lawyer can assist with modification requests when circumstances change.

Challenging a Paternity Order

There were a total of 572,337 children living in Riverside as of 2025. If someone wants to challenge who is listed as a child’s father, they must file a request with the court. The court can deny the request if it decides that keeping the existing parentage is in the child’s best interest. Factors include:

• The child’s age
• How long it has been since the original decision
• The quality and length of the relationship between the declared father and the child
• Whether the declared father wants to continue the relationship
• Whether the biological father supports that relationship
• The possible benefits or harm to the child if the biological father is made the legal parent

If a court does cancel the parentage decision, it must also cancel any child support orders based on it. However, the declared father cannot get back any money he already paid in previous child support payments.

Why Choose Us?

As of 2023, 49% of Riverside residents were men. These men deserve legal advocates to help fight for their rights. The Law Offices of Michelanne Hrubic doesn’t favor one gender over another and advocates for you in court so that your rights are respected. We work tirelessly to ensure the most favorable outcome for our clientele. When you work with our team, you’ll be working with a compassionate Riverside fathers’ rights attorney who genuinely wants to help.

FAQs

What Is Presumed Parentage in Riverside, CA?

A presumed parent is someone the law recognizes as a child’s parent even without formal proof. This is usually due to marriage or raising a child in your home. Challenging this presumption requires strong evidence. If more than one individual qualifies as a presumed parent, the court will determine legal parentage based on reasoned judgment and the best interests of the child.

What Is a Temporary Restraining Order in a California Paternity Case?

In a court case to legally establish a parent and child relationship in California, the official court notice must include a temporary restraining order. This order prevents either parent from taking the child out of California without the other parent’s written permission or a court order. This exists to make sure the child remains in the state while the case is being decided.

Which Parent Is Favored in a Child Custody Case in Riverside, CA?

In California, when a court decides who should have custody of a child, it doesn’t favor one gender over another. Fathers have the same legal rights as mothers, once paternity is established. It only considers what’s in the child’s best interest. The court prefers both parents to be involved in caring for their children, unless it is determined not to be in their best interest. Our skilled child custody lawyer ensures fathers receive fair representation in custody proceedings.

How Is Parentage Established When Assisted Reproduction Is Used in Riverside,CA?

When assisted reproduction is used, a person who agrees to be a parent is treated as the child’s legal parent, even if they are not the biological parent. Many people find assisted reproduction to be a favorable option for procreation. In California, sperm or egg donors are usually not considered parents unless a written agreement says otherwise. The same is true for embryo donors.

Choose a Trusted Riverside Family Law Firm

The Law Offices of Michelanne Hrubic is proud to be a pillar of the Riverside community. We represent our California neighbors in various family law cases, working to make sure their needs are followed throughout the entirety of their case. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help you.

Riverside, CA Fathers Rights Resources

• Does California Favor the Mother or Father in Custody Cases?
• Can a Mother Withhold a Child from the Father in California?