In Nevada the parent/child relationship equally extends to each and every parent and child born in the State of Nevada or those living here. Moreover, children are entitled to be financially supported by their parents.
Children born outside the bonds of marriage can create legal questions about who will provide financial support and how that support will be provided. In the case of a child born out of wedlock, a paternity claim will be necessary before the court can make a determination about custody and support of a child.
The statutory guidelines to determine parentage are found in NRS 126.051. More specifically, if a mother is married at the time of her child’s birth, her husband will be presumed to be the child’s biological parent. In the event the parents divorce, separate, or their marriage is annulled, paternity is presumed if the child was born within 285 days of the separation, divorce, or annulment. If the parents are unmarried at the time of a child’s birth, paternity is presumed if the parties lived together for at least 6 months before the child was conceived and the parties continued to reside together through the period of conception.
To establish a paternity claim, the court will typically require a DNA test to occur to determine the true parentage of a child. Upon confirmation of paternity, then a parent’s visitation rights or child support rights are established and can thereafter be enforced by court order.
In the event you are the parent of a new baby, or you need to establish your parental rights to have visitation with your children, our Henderson Paternity attorneys have extensive experience and routinely assist clients in protecting or establishing parental rights. To discuss your case with us, please call us at 702-602-7447 to schedule a consultation.