Youngquist Law Office has handled many paternity and parenting time issues, including related financial matters of child support, health insurance and daycare expense allocation.

Paternity may be established by a court order or, as is common in the State of Minnesota, through execution of a Recognition of Parentage.

A Recognition of Parentage, validly executed and filed with the State of Minnesota, is deemed to have the same force and effect as a court order in establishing paternity of child.  The Recognition of Paternity grants to the mother temporary custody and provides that either party may petition the Court to address permanent custody and/or parenting time issues.

In a paternity action, financial issues of child support and related matters are handled in the same fashion as is the case in a dissolution of marriage action.  Child support guidelines apply in both circumstances.  The father may also be ordered to contribute toward birth expenses.

If either party requests genetic testing, the court will order such testing to take place to assist in establishing paternity.

Modifications of custody in a paternity action are governed by the same rules as in a dissolution of marriage action.  Absent agreement of the parties, custody may be modified if a child has become integrated into the home of the non-custodial parent or the child's present home endangers the child's physical or emotional well-being or harms the child's emotional growth, and the change will be less harmful to the child then remaining in the custodial parent's home.