Clarksville Paternity Lawyers
Helping Unite Families in Montgomery County, TN
In Tennessee, the husband is assumed the father when a married couple has a child. However, there are many unmarried couples who have children. In these cases, the biological father must establish “paternity” to be named the legal father of a child. Since paternity cases can be hotly contested, having an experienced family law attorney on your side can make a substantial difference.
If you are interested in establishing or contesting paternity in Montgomery County, let Jeff Grimes & Associates, PLLC provide effective and personalized legal solutions. With over 40 years of collective legal experience, our Clarksville paternity attorneys understand what it takes to get the outcome you desire in court.
Contact us today at (931) 398-5308 to learn more about our legal services.
Establishing Paternity in Tennessee
You can establish paternity in Tennessee either voluntary or involuntarily until the child turns 21.
If both parents agree that the father is the biological father, they must both sign a “Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity,” which is a form that can be obtained from the hospital where the child was born, the Office of Vital Records, the local health department, or the child support office. The form must be signed, notarized, and then sent to the Office of Vital Records.
Involuntary establishment of paternity is handled by the court, which is issue an “order of parentage.” The court process starts by one parent filing a “Petition to Establish Parentage” at the county court. If either parent is uncertain of paternity or denies it, the court may order a DNA test.
If the DNA test proves that the father is, in fact, the biological father, he will be issued an order of parentage and his name will be added to the child’s birth certificate. The court may also determine child support, child custody, and visitation in the same proceeding.
Establishing paternity has the following benefits:
- Allows the child to have a both parents in his/her life
- Helps the child understand family and medical history
- Gives the child access to health insurance and other benefits such as Social Security and inheritance
- Enables mothers to share parent responsibilities and childcare costs
- Mothers may seek child support on behalf of the child
- Gives fathers legal rights to their child, such as custody and visitation rights
- Helps fathers be a part of their child’s life
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today
Our firm helps both fathers and mothers establish paternity in Tennessee. We can assess your case, figure out all your legal options, and help you get the most favorable result in court. Let us protect your rights and best interests throughout the legal process.
Contact us today to discuss your case with our legal team.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
Reviews & Testimonials
At Jeff Grimes & Associates, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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"They exceeded my expectations and got me everything I needed."
I hired their law firm for a legal case and not only were they highly professional but always courteous and respectful. They exceeded my expectations and got me everything I needed. If I ever need legal services again I will definitely be choosing them in the future.
- Lisa S. -
"HONEST, LOYAL, AND DEDICATED this firm gets 5 stars."
If you need legal counsel then I highly recommend you make an appointment with this firm. Mr. Sensing was my attorney and is very dedicated to his clients going to great lengths to provide the very best defense possible. Stays in touch with his clients always bringing them up to speed on what is being done in their case providing copies of everything to the client. HONEST, LOYAL, AND DEDICATED this firm gets 5 stars.
- Brad H. -
"I can honestly say I was not disappointed."
I took a trip out to TN and got in to some trouble in Clarksville and needed representation for a case while I was I back in my home state. I went to Grimes, Sensing & Clemons feeling distraught and like I had no hope, seeking a solid defense attorney that would actually fight for my case and get me the best possible deal. I left feeling comfortable and confident. I can honestly say I was not disappointed, the only time I needed to come back to TN was for the sentencing(mind you cases may differ) and unbelievably Jeffery Grimes was able to pull a rabbit out of a hat and get a felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor as well as talk down the court fines... I strongly suggest Jeffery Grimes as your defense attorney for any legal issues you may have, also their fees are very reasonable and they will do payment plans. Thank you very much Grimes, Sensing and Clemons.
- Spence W. -
"Thank you for helping me I know it’s your job but the peace of mind you gave me is priceless."
Thank you so much Grimes, Sensing & Clemons PLLC!! I've been working with them for months and I couldn't be happier. Grimes helped with all of the little details I didn't even know I needed. He is always friendly and ready to answer all of my questions. Your attention to my case has allowed me to focus on what's important to me, healing and family. Thank you for helping me I know it’s your job but the peace of mind you gave me is priceless. Thanks again! ~ YC
- Satisfied Client -
"The outcome for my request was better than I could have hoped for."
I hired Mr Sensing to assist me with the modification of a parenting plan that just wasn’t working anymore. I hired another lawyer in the Clarksville area that did not do their due diligence. Mr Sensing and his team were great throughout the process. Emails and phone calls were actually returned in a timely manner! Which wasn’t the case with the lawyer I used before. I had access to all my court documents and was always kept informed on what was going on with my case. Lastly Mr Sensing is very experienced and knowledgeable in his field. The outcome for my request was better than I could have hoped for, and I honestly feel like that was due to Mr Sensing.
- Toni M. -
"Best defense lawyer you could ask for."
Grimes is the best defense lawyer you could ask for. He was able to take what would generally be a felony for sure and get it down to a misdemeanor and a fine. If you have him as your lawyer, you won't have anything to worry about.
- Dennis H. -
"Very professional and fairly priced!"
Mr.Grimes made my case go very smoothly and easily for me I was out of state for a good part of it he went out of his way to let me know if something changed and he was always very professional and fairly priced! I would recommend him a thousand times over!!
- David L. -
"Fought with me the whole 2 years my case took for me to get the time with my son I’ve always wanted."
Mr. Sensing is an excellent attorney. He fought with me the whole 2 years my case took for me to get the time with my son I’ve always wanted. I will definitely recommend his services to anyone and I will be going back to him if I have any issues in the future. Also Pat and Amy are awesome!!
- Satisfied Client