Paternity Lawyer Kings County, NY
When a child is born to unmarried parents in Kings County, establishing legal parentage is often the first step toward securing custody, visitation rights, and child support. A paternity proceeding in Brooklyn determines who the law recognizes as a child’s legal father—a determination that carries lasting consequences for both the child and the parents. At Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel team represent mothers seeking to establish paternity for support purposes and fathers seeking to protect their relationship with their child. The firm has practiced family law since 1997, and Mr. Sris is admitted in New York, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey. Paternity cases in Kings County are heard in the Family Court at 330 Jay Street or, when tied to a divorce or equitable distribution matter, in the Supreme Court at 360 Adams Street. To discuss your paternity matter with an experienced attorney, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. – Advocacy Without Borders.
What Paternity Means in Kings County, NY
Paternity is the legal process of establishing who a child’s father is under New York law. In Kings County—the most populous county in New York State, encompassing all of Brooklyn—paternity petitions are filed in the Kings County Family Court. The proceeding is governed by Article 5 of the New York Family Court Act, which authorizes the court to issue an order of filiation declaring a man to be the legal father of a child. Once paternity is established, the court can address custody, visitation, and child support. For unmarried parents, a child has no legal father until paternity is adjudicated or acknowledged, which means a father cannot assert custody or visitation rights, and a mother cannot obtain a child support order, without first resolving the paternity question.
Kings County Family Court, located at 330 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, handles a high volume of paternity cases each year. The court serves Brooklyn neighborhoods including Williamsburg, Park Slope, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Bay Ridge, Bed-Stuy, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Brownsville, and Sunset Park. Our New York location represents clients throughout the 2nd Judicial District. Under New York law, paternity may be established through a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents, or through a court-ordered genetic marker test when parentage is disputed. The court may direct the alleged father, the mother, and the child to submit to DNA testing. When the test results indicate a high probability of paternity, the court typically enters an order of filiation. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to paternity matters in Kings County. Results may vary.
How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Handle Paternity Cases
Paternity matters in Kings County involve more than a DNA test result. The legal consequences of establishing paternity extend to custody, parenting time, child support obligations calculated under the New York statutory formula, inheritance rights, and access to family health insurance and Social Security benefits. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel approach each case with an understanding that the paternity determination is often the gateway to a broader set of family law issues. For a mother seeking support, establishing paternity is the necessary predicate to a child support petition. For a father seeking a relationship with his child, a paternity adjudication creates the legal standing to petition for custody or visitation.
The process in Kings County Family Court begins with the filing of a petition. The court then schedules an initial appearance, at which the parties may stipulate to paternity—often on the basis of a DNA test—or proceed to a fact-finding hearing. If genetic testing is ordered, the court awaits results before making a determination. Throughout this process, Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel work to protect the client’s interests, whether that means securing a timely support order, preserving a father’s access to his child, or ensuring that the paternity determination does not disrupt an existing family arrangement. Because Kings County Family Court operates under the same procedural rules as all New York Family Courts, our attorneys are familiar with the local practices and the expectations of the bench. The timeline for a paternity case varies by case complexity and court scheduling; we work to move matters forward efficiently.
About Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Team
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., has practiced law since 1997 and is admitted in New York, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey. A former prosecutor, Mr. Sris brings trial experience to family law matters, including paternity proceedings where cross-examination of witnesses and evidentiary challenges to genetic testing may be central to the case. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova). His Of Counsel team includes attorneys with experience in New York family law, and the firm maintains a New York location serving Kings County and the surrounding boroughs. The firm speaks English, Spanish, and Tamil. For a consultation about your paternity matter in Kings County, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is paternity established in Kings County, New York?
Paternity in Kings County is established either by a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents and filed with the New York State Department of Health, or by an order of filiation issued by the Kings County Family Court after a proceeding under Article 5 of the Family Court Act. When the parents agree on the identity of the father, an acknowledgment form may be signed at the hospital at the time of the child’s birth or later at the local registrar. When parentage is disputed, either parent may file a petition in Family Court. The court may order genetic marker testing of the child, the mother, and the alleged father. If the test results show a probability of paternity that meets the statutory threshold, the court will enter an order of filiation. Once paternity is legally established, the father’s name can be added to the child’s birth certificate, and the court can address custody, visitation, and child support. To discuss the details of your matter, contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Do I need a lawyer for a paternity case in Kings County?
You are not legally required to hire a lawyer for a paternity proceeding in Kings County Family Court, but having an experienced attorney helps ensure your rights are protected and that the paternity determination does not inadvertently affect other legal interests. A paternity case implicates financial obligations, custody rights, and the parent-child relationship. For a mother, an attorney can help secure a child support order that accurately reflects the father’s income under the New York statutory formula—seventeen percent of combined parental income for one child, with adjustments for additional children and income above the statutory cap. For a father, an attorney can assert custody and visitation claims at the same proceeding, avoiding the need for a separate filing. For guidance on your specific situation, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What rights does a father have after paternity is established in New York?
Once paternity is legally established in New York, a father has the right to petition for custody, seek a visitation schedule, and participate in decisions about the child’s upbringing, just as a father of a child born to married parents would. An order of filiation gives the father legal standing to appear in Family Court and assert his parental rights. He also assumes legal obligations, including the duty to provide financial support calculated under the New York Child Support Standards Act. The father’s name will appear on the child’s birth certificate, and the child gains inheritance rights and access to benefits such as Social Security and health insurance through the father. The court determines custody and visitation based on the best interests of the child, applying the same standard it uses in all custody cases. For a consultation, reach Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel at (888) 437-7747.
Can a paternity order be challenged after it is entered in Kings County?
A paternity order may be challenged in limited circumstances, such as when newly discovered evidence—including DNA test results that were not available at the time of the original proceeding—calls the finding of paternity into question. Under New York Family Court Act § 524, a person who has been adjudicated the father may file a petition to vacate the order of filiation based on fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact. A petition to vacate must be filed within a specific statutory timeframe, and the court will consider whether vacating the order would be in the child’s best interests. The availability of relief depends on the facts of the individual case and the procedural posture. An experienced attorney can evaluate whether a challenge is viable and advise on the likelihood of success. For guidance on your specific situation, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
How does the Kings County Family Court handle child support in paternity cases?
The Kings County Family Court applies the New York Child Support Standards Act to calculate child support once paternity is established, using a statutory percentage of the parents’ combined income—seventeen percent for one child, twenty-five percent for two, and increasing for additional children. The formula is applied to combined parental income up to the statutory cap, which is adjusted periodically. Income above the cap is subject to the court’s discretion based on factors that include the child’s needs and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents been married. The court may also order the non-custodial parent to contribute to health insurance premiums, child care costs, and educational expenses. The support order is enforceable through income withholding, tax refund interception, and other enforcement mechanisms available under New York law. To discuss the details of your matter, contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What should I bring to a consultation with a paternity lawyer in Kings County?
For a productive consultation about a Kings County paternity matter, bring any documents related to the child’s birth, any existing acknowledgment of paternity or prior court orders, correspondence from the other parent or the court, and income information for both parents. If the child was born outside of a marriage, the birth certificate may not list a father, or it may list a named father who has not been legally adjudicated. Any communication from the Kings County Family Court or the New York City Administration for Children’s Services should be brought to the consultation. If genetic testing has already been conducted, bring the results. The more information you provide at the initial consultation, the better Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel can assess your legal position. For a consultation, reach Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel at (888) 437-7747.
For related family law matters in neighboring New York localities, see our pages on Family Law Lawyer New York County, Family Law Lawyer Queens County, and Family Law Lawyer Richmond County. Our firm also serves Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. maintains a New York location serving Kings County and the surrounding boroughs. Our New York location is by appointment only. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation.