PATERNITY - Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship - A Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship (may have a different name in some states) is a legal document used to respond to a parentage case, allowing the respondent to address the parentage claim and request any orders they want the court to make.
The Response allows the person who was served with the Petition (the Respondent) to formally respond to the claims made in the Petition and to request any orders they want the court to make in the case.
The Process:
- File a Response: You generally have 30 days from the date you were served to file a Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship with the court (this may vary some from state to state).
- Serve the Petitioner: After filing the Response with the court, you must also serve the Petitioner with a copy of your Response.
- Address the Petition: In your Response, you can address the parentage claim, agree or disagree with the orders requested in the Petition, and request orders of your own.
- Seek Child Support: If you want child support, you may need to also fill out an Income and Expense Declaration.
Once a person is determined as a legal parent, they are legally obligated to financially support the child.
NOTE: If you do not respond to the Petition within 30 days (again, this may vary from state to state), the other party can ask for a default judgment, and the court may grant everything requested in the Petition.
Does not include Court Costs, Electronic Filing Fees, Service of Process or Genetic Testing Costs.
PATERNITY - Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship (Nationwide)
PATERNITY - Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship - A Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship (may have a different name in some states) is a legal document used to respond to a parentage case, allowing the respondent to address the parentage claim and request any orders they want the court to make.
The Response allows the person who was served with the Petition (the Respondent) to formally respond to the claims made in the Petition and to request any orders they want the court to make in the case.
The Process:
- File a Response: You generally have 30 days from the date you were served to file a Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship with the court (this may vary some from state to state).
- Serve the Petitioner: After filing the Response with the court, you must also serve the Petitioner with a copy of your Response.
- Address the Petition: In your Response, you can address the parentage claim, agree or disagree with the orders requested in the Petition, and request orders of your own.
- Seek Child Support: If you want child support, you may need to also fill out an Income and Expense Declaration.
Once a person is determined as a legal parent, they are legally obligated to financially support the child.
NOTE: If you do not respond to the Petition within 30 days (again, this may vary from state to state), the other party can ask for a default judgment, and the court may grant everything requested in the Petition.
Does not include Court Costs, Electronic Filing Fees, Service of Process or Genetic Testing Costs.