Parenting Plan vs. Residential Schedule

In most family law actions where children are involved, the court will enter a Parenting Plan for the children. Parenting Plans are detailed court orders addressing both parents rights and responsibilities regarding the children. The three main issues addressed in the Parenting Plan are the residential schedule, decision making and dispute resolution.

In parentage (paternity) cases, the court has the option of entering a Parenting Plan or only a Residential Schedule. A Residential Schedule addresses the residential schedule of the child (when the child is with the mother and when the child is with the father), but does not include decision making or dispute resolution provisions that are in Parenting Plans. If a party requests a Parenting Plan, then the court will enter one rather than just a Residential Schedule.

The Renton law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases, including parentage actions with Parenting Plans or Residential Schedules. We have 4 attorneys for you to chose from. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information.

Establishing Paternity: DNA Tests

Paternity tests are highly accurate methods of biological testing that are used to determine whether or not a particular man is the father of a particular child (action for Parentage). They are often necessary if the alleged father wishes to challenge the mother on the paternity of the child in question, or if there is uncertainty on the part of either parent as to who the father is. Each party must submit to genetic tests at the request of either party.

An Explanation of Genetic Material. One of the types of paternity tests available is a DNA test. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), is the genetic material present in every cell of the human body. Half of a child’s genetic material is from his or her biological mother and half from the biological father. The process of DNA testing compares the genetic characteristics of the child to those of the mother. The characteristics that cannot be found in the mother have to have been inherited from the father.

DNA Paternity Testing. The most accurate form of paternity testing possible is DNA testing. An alleged father can be completely ruled out if DNA patterns between the child and the alleged father do not match on two or more DNA probes. However, if the DNA patterns between mother, child, and the alleged father match on every DNA the likelihood of paternity is 99.9 percent. The test can be conducted from a blood sample or a Buccal strap in which a swab is rubbed against the inside of the subject’s cheek.

The Renton law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases, including parentage (paternity). We have 4 attorneys for you to chose from. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information.

Paternity Declaration in Washington

Did you know that paternity (parentage) can be determined by the signing of a Paternity Declaration? If you sign one (typically at the hospital at birth, but it could be at any time), after 60 days, it can have the same force and effect as a Court Order determining Parentage. This can save a substantial amount of time and money should you need to establish your legal rights. You can skip the entire legal process of establishing parentage (since it has already been done), and all you have to do is file a Petition for Parenting Plan and Child Support. With this, the court is just interested in establishing a Parenting Plan, defining both parents rights and responsiblities of the child, and setting our child support for the child.

The Renton law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases, including parentage actions. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/attorneys/testimonials.html for more information.