St. Louis Paternity Lawyer
Our Family Court Lawyer’s goal is to ensure that children thrive by working to ensure parents have an active role in their child’s life.
You cannot argue that a child raised with a healthy relationship with both parents will generally thrive emotionally and mentally. Our goal is to assist parents in ensuring they can actively participate in their child’s life.
I hired the services of David Betz for purposes of getting a name change and him and his paralegal Debbye were professional, answered emails promptly, and were able to handle a complication in my case with no problems. Would highly recommend Mr. Betz.
Mr. Betz is a knowledgeable and helpful straight shooter who truly cares about kids! Highly recommend.
The Betz Law Firm assisted my son with legally changing his name. They were extremely easy to work and very helpful!!!
David Betz and Debbye Lasky were both wonderful to work with and accomplished what I needed done.
David was very professional and helpful for our child during a recent litigation. I would highly recommend his firm for GAL service or attorney service!
Fair Guardian Ad Litem who has walked a tightrope of a custody case
I was very impressed with Mr. Betz’s service. He was the GAL for my children. He was very professional, fair-but-caring and advocated tireless for the children’s best interests. He took his time to talk to them about their wishes, giving us sound advice and guided us through an otherwise contentious process. I appreciated his professionalism, ethics and would highly recommend him.
My son and I have worked with David Betz for several years in custody matters concerning my grandson. I have found him to be genuinely concerned with our situation and responsive to our needs. He listens carefully and handles matters promptly. He is realistic in evaluating situations and helps us to arrive at the best possible alternatives. I highly recommend him for family law matters.
I am a transfeminine nonbinary person that used The Betz Firm to get my name changed. They were extremely affirming, and excited to work with me through this as it was an immensely huge deal for me. Thank you Betz Firm, for making this a reality for me!
Joel and David are extremely helpful and helped with everything I needed. They are kind and worked with me with all of my needs regarding my case! I would recommend to everyone!
David was phenomenal in helping me secure protection and safety for myself and my daughter during the divorce and custody case. We ultimately prevailed at the end with 100% custody and a judgement in favor of the petitioner for support, with heavy stipulations in place for visitation. David by your side in the courtroom is a sure fire win. Place your bets on Betz!
David was super helpful in getting all of my questions answered. He was kind and patient while I explained the situation I was dealing with, and outlined numerous options and avenues that I had as choices. He didn't sugar coat things and was honest where he thought struggles would appear in the case, and talked through best and worst case scenarios. He also was nice enough to offer additional phone calls if more questions came up while choosing how to move forward with the case. I would highly recommend talking to David about your case if you need a family lawyer, as it's obvious that he is kind, and extremely knowledgeable about family law and the complications it can involve.
The Betz Firm has handled all of our family law needs. They are an impressive team to work with and they have the ability to find the best solution for their clients.
I have all the world to say about this man. He helped me piece my life back together.
David Betz took the time to answer all of my questions and was very kind, thoughtful, considerate, and most importantly of all knowledgeable. I very much appreciated his time and help!
The staff is very professional and friendly and comforting to their clients (the children). They definitely put us all at ease during an uncomfortable time.David himself is very easy to talk to, and both of my kids really liked him. I am very impressed with their involvement in our case. He has been easy to work with and good at getting back to us in a timely manner with issues regarding our case.I would highly recommend his office to anyone in need of legal help for their children.10 months later...I wanted to add, we have been in this case for 22 months and it’s about to wrap up. David has been amazing. My 16 year old daughter had kind of lost her faith in the system and in adults - David really worked with her and helped hold her accountable, but also gave her a voice, great advice, and really won her over. She really trusts him. When she was struggling, she would ask to call David. When I was struggling with her, I would threaten to call David and she would become more agreeable. She really trusts and respects him. Which for me, takes a unique skill set. Not everyone can get an unhappy teen to comply and also still keep their trust and respect. My son loved David too. Both kids looked forward to our apts with David. Which when you are fighting a child support/ custody case and your drained, it’s so nice to have parts of the process be so easy and helpful. And that’s what we got from David and his staff.David has offered to be available if he can help after the case with questions or getting a teenager in line. They were understanding and more than fair with my payment options. Joel, his assistant- is a joy to talk to and prompt to respond and he chatted with the kids and put them at ease in a very uncomfortable situation. I can’t say enough good things about them.We drive past their office every day on the way to school and my daughter said she wanted to stop by and take David a Christmas present. That’s pretty impressive for a 16 year old.They really made a very unbearable situation so much better; David even made us smile and laugh during a very nerve wracking time.I would highly recommend them to anyone. Definitely 5 plus stars!
David helped me successfully navigate through a challenging legal scenario, where timely direction and counsel were paramount to a positive outcome. He quickly understood the issues at hand, provided very practical advice, all the while demonstrating his firm understanding of the law. Just as importantly, his advice was grounded in how the practical application of that knowledge would lead to a positive outcome. He was easy to talk with, a focused listener, honest, and it was obvious that he was not out for his own gain. It was nothing short of a positive experience from start to finish!
I retained David Betz for my divorce and very happy with how things turned out. David and his team went straight to work and kept me updated every step of the way. If you looking for someone to get the job done, then look no further. Thank You David and Joel for all you have done for me!!
I felt comfortable with David and was always treated with respect and listened to.
Such a great experience working with David. He truly was looking after my child's best interest and that's what it's all about. But he also was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and explained everything so that even my 7 year old could understand. Well done.
David is a great person and lawyer. He was on top of the situation instantly also very professional. I would recommend him to anyone that wants not only a lawyer but a friend he listened to my concerns and took action thats what I like about him. Thanks David ! My life is forever changed !
David actually cared and unlike most attorneys, did not try to take as much as possible. I am satisfied and got everything I needed.
David Betz is professional and is very to the point! He knows the law and helps to get you a fair deal. He helped me get 50 percent custody of my kids and my home back from my ex. His staff are very knowledgeable and helpfully as well! I highly recommend him to anyone going though a custody battle!
I was in a very tough spot legally with a family situation. David was able to help me out and I got much more than I ever expected from the court. I give David the highest possible rating!!! He will do what is necessary to help you with your family law situation.
David Betz is very kind and will answer any questions you have regarding your case in a timely manner. I highly recommend him.
Really listened and provided solid advice and assistance. Always made himself available and never rushed our meetings. He really cared about our outcome, I felt like a friend rather than a client. A great attorney and true professional.
We strongly believe that men who father children are responsible for looking out for their child’s well-being despite any bad feelings they might have towards their child’s mother. In these cases, we work with single mothers to help prove paternity so that they can be provided with any support they might need in raising the child.
What is Paternity?
A child born to parents who are not legally married technically has no legal male guardian. Paternity is establishing the legal rights and responsibilities of a man to his biological child. This is helpful to the father who wishes to exercise his right to visit or obtain custody of the child. The mother benefits by being able to file a petition for child support. The most significant benefit is to the child, who will now be eligible to receive health care from the father’s insurance, be eligible for social security if his father passes away, and have the chance to build a relationship with his father.
Establishing Paternity
Unmarried Missouri residents who both acknowledge that the man is the biological father of a baby can immediately sign an affidavit at the hospital where the baby is born. Once both parties sign that affidavit acknowledging paternity, the father’s name will be added to the birth certificate, and he will become the legal father.
If a man is questioned as to whether he is the father of a child, a paternity or DNA test may be performed. We can help if one of the parents does not wish to have the paternity of a child confirmed by assisting you in filing a petition with a St. Louis family court that will compel the opposing party to be compliant.
When Should Paternity be Established?
As experienced family law attorneys, we recommend establishing paternity as soon as possible after birth to ensure everyone’s rights can be recognized. Beyond that, paternity can be established anytime until the child’s 18th birthday. Before turning 21, a child can pursue their paternity through the Missouri family court system.
Does It Make any Difference Whose Last Name the Child Uses?
The child’s last name has no bearing on child support and visitation matters. We recommend that an unwed mother who will be maintaining sole custody of her child use her last name on the birth certificate to make things easier on her and the child, especially once he enters school. A child’s name can be changed on his birth certificate when the affidavit acknowledging paternity is completed. If the parent or parents wish to wait, a court order will be required to change the child’s last name.
Can My Baby Be Adopted Without My Consent?
If you have conceived a child outside of the ties of marriage and have reason to believe that the mother intends to give the baby over for adoption, we can help you confirm that your consent will be required. You must file a claim with the Putative Father Registry stating that you strongly believe you are the child’s father. This must be completed no later than 15 days after the baby is born. While it is not a legally binding paternity order, it does put his name on an official record, indicating that he believes he may be the father. This will make it necessary for the people involved in the adoption of our child to notify you, verify your paternity, and obtain your consent.
Why is Establishing Paternity Important for the Mother?
To receive financial support from the father, the father must acknowledge that he is the biological father. We will not be able to file a petition for child support on your behalf until paternity is established. If the father is unwilling, we will file the necessary paperwork for the courts to compel him to submit to a paternity test.
A legal acknowledgment of paternity is also essential for the child’s future. Not only is it important to help your child build a relationship with their other parent, but they will also be legally entitled to any benefits that one of his beneficiaries should receive.
Why is Establishing Paternity Important for the Father?
Even if you are not listed on the child’s birth certificate, as a father, you have rights regarding your child. Allow us to help you establish your paternity so you can enforce your right to spend time with your biological child. Only after paternity is established will a St. Louis family court judge hear your petition for visitation or custody. We can help you obtain the order for a paternity test and help file the paperwork needed for a visitation petition.
Paternity Lawyer – St. Louis Family Court Attorney
Whether you are a single mother seeking financial support from the biological father or the dad who is trying to get to know their child, our team of experienced paternity lawyers can help you through every stage of the process. We recognize that this is often a delicate situation between the parents and will work diligently to ensure that the child’s needs are met first and foremost. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis Family Court Lawyer.
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