When parents are not married, establishing legal parentage is often the first step in addressing important issues involving child custody, parenting time, child support, and decision-making authority. A paternity action provides the legal framework for determining each parent’s rights and responsibilities while promoting the child’s best interests.

Whether you are a mother seeking to establish paternity, a father seeking to protect your parental rights, or an individual responding to a paternity action, I provide experienced legal representation tailored to your family’s unique circumstances.

Today’s families take many forms, including unmarried parents, same-sex parents, blended families, adoptive families, and families created through assisted reproduction. Regardless of your family’s structure, my goal is to help clients navigate the legal process while developing practical solutions that promote stability and protect children’s well-being.

A paternity action is a legal proceeding used to establish a child’s legal parentage when the child’s parents were not married to one another at the time of the child’s birth.

Establishing parentage allows the court to address important issues involving:

In many cases, multiple issues are resolved within the same proceeding.

Establishing legal parentage provides important protections for both children and parents.

Depending on the circumstances, establishing paternity may:

Every family’s circumstances are different, and the legal issues involved vary from case to case.

Depending on the circumstances, paternity may be established in several ways under Massachusetts law, including:

The appropriate process depends on the specific facts of each case.

A paternity action often involves much more than establishing parentage. Once parentage has been established—or is being determined—the court may also address:

Resolving these issues together often provides families with greater clarity and reduces future disputes.

Some paternity actions are uncontested and involve parents who simply need the court to establish legal rights and responsibilities. Others involve disputed parentage, contested custody issues, or complex financial matters.

No two families are alike. Developing the appropriate legal strategy requires careful evaluation of the facts, the applicable law, and the family’s long-term goals.

I represent clients in matters involving:

Paternity proceedings establish important legal rights and responsibilities that often affect families for many years. These matters require careful legal analysis, thoughtful planning, and a practical approach focused on the child’s best interests.

For more than 15 years, I have represented parents throughout Massachusetts in custody, parenting, child support, and other Probate and Family Court matters. I work closely with clients to understand their goals, explain the legal process, and develop practical strategies tailored to their family’s unique circumstances.

Whether your matter is resolved through agreement or litigation, I provide thoughtful guidance, thorough preparation, and experienced advocacy throughout every stage of the case.