Paternity

Resolve Your Paternity Case With Help From Our Chicago Attorneys

A paternity test itself is simple and conclusive, but the underlying issues can be complicated and volatile. If you are party to a paternity action, you should have solid legal counsel at the outset from an attorney who understands the nuances and can represent you effectively in legal proceedings.

As Seen On:

Continuing a growing trend, the Centers for Disease Control reports that 1.5 million children (40 percent of all births) were born out of wedlock in 2012. While some of those children live and thrive with their unwed parents, millions will grow up without their biological father in the household. When a child’s parents are not married or no longer cohabitating, and the father is out of the picture or scarcely involved, that child is statistically more likely to experience poverty, child abuse, arrest, drug use, failure in school and a range of social, emotional and health problems.

Child Support

Once a mother has established a noncustodial father’s paternity, she can petition an Illinois court for a child support order. This duty of support is based on the biological relationship and exists even if the father has not been a factor in the child’s life. Such a determination works both ways, creating standing for the father to assert custody rights.

Learn More

Child Custody

Once a father has established paternity, he usually has standing to seek joint or sole custody of his child. The court’s ultimate custody determination is based on the best interests of the child involved.

Learn More

Visitation Rights

A father may seek a determination of paternity to gain visitation (parenting time) with his children.

Inheritance Rights

A determination of paternity may also give a child some inheritance rights should the father die intestate (without a valid will). Conversely, the father may also gain rights of inheritance under Illinois’ intestacy statute in the event that the child precedes him in death.

Testimonials

    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kaleb Wright 
 18 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I met Anthony D’Agostino today at Law Office Of Jeffery Leving for a consultation and he’s an amazing attorney passionately helping fathers obtain custody and exceptional time with their kids. Anthony is a father himself so; he understands about life situations when it comes down to father’s rights. Us real fathers in the world deserve the same as mothers we don’t get that much praise but Anthony D’Agostino is the attorney to make a difference for fathers and your voice will be heard. Kaleb W.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Marrlow Epps 
 33 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. Brain Gilbert did a good job helping me support my fatherhood rights, thanks again sir
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Reed Becker 
 38 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent firm with excellent lawyers.  They have a vast reservoir of legal knowledge and very capable lawyers. Best legal firm I have ever dealt with.  I highly recommend them, you will not regret it.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Marcin Kopiczko 
 53 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. James M. Hagler is the BEST lawyer. I highly recommend him and his team. He helped me win my case and I got my son back in life. Mr. Hagler always keep me informed, answered the phone every time I called and always had an answer for every question I asked. I knew from the first meeting I had with Mr. Hagler he was going to help me get my son back. He is a very good at what he does. Thank you Mr. James and his team
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Kareem Henry 
 61 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I hired the Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Leaving and the whole staff was great. My Attorney Michael Salamun was awesome, he was very knowledgeable and took time with me to break down and the legal terms so that I was aware of what was going on. In my child support case he saved me thousands with his fight and knowledge.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cory Taylor 
 67 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Attorney Brian Gilbert is one of the best attorney's at this law firm. He is very responsive, and goes above and beyond for his clients. The services I received were definitely worth every penny.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Massi Vera 
 77 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brian Gilbert at Leving Law is an outstanding attorney. He handled my case with professionalism, speed, and genuine care. Thanks to Brian, I was able to get the results I needed. He made a stressful process much easier and kept me informed every step of the way. I’m so grateful for his help and would highly recommend him to anyone needing a skilled and compassionate family law attorney.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Emmanuel Allen 
 84 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anthony D'Agostino really cares about Father's. Helped me with my custody case with my daughter. His honesty and knowledge of the law helped me get my rights to my daughter. E.L
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Sunit Singla 
 85 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As a physician, I operate in environments that require objective data, clear strategy, and the ability to cut through emotional noise. Mr. Ochoa, Mr Madden, and the entire team at Leving Law bring exactly that level of clinical precision to family law. High-conflict family court cases often get bogged down in subjective narratives, and systemic delays. From day one, Mr. Ochoa recognized the structural realities of my case and immediately pivoted the strategy toward objective, fact-based forensic evaluation. He is fiercely protective of his clients and easily dismantles desperate tactics from opposing counsel with sharp, unbothered legal execution. He does not get distracted by the noise; he stays entirely focused on the mission and the facts. For any professional or parent navigating a complex, high-stakes family law situation, I cannot recommend Leving Law Offices highly enough. They are tactical, highly competent, and operate at the absolute highest tier of their profession.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Richhomie Julio 
 85 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anthony s .D’agostino really helped me with my child support case and was very professional and kind will most definitely recommend him to friends and family

Contact Us

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone Number(Required)

Your Message(Required)

Kaleb Wright

18 days ago

I met Anthony D’Agostino today at Law Office Of Jeffery Leving for a consultation and he’s an amazing attorney passionately helping fathers obtain custody and exceptional time with their kids. Anthony is a father himself so; he understands about life situations when it comes down to father’s rights. Us real fathers in the world deserve the same as mothers we don’t get that much praise but Anthony D’Agostino is the attorney to make a difference for fathers and your voice will be heard. Kaleb W.

Marrlow Epps

33 days ago

Mr. Brain Gilbert did a good job helping me support my fatherhood rights, thanks again sir

Reed Becker

38 days ago

Excellent firm with excellent lawyers. They have a vast reservoir of legal knowledge and very capable lawyers. Best legal firm I have ever dealt with. I highly recommend them, you will not regret it.

Marcin Kopiczko

53 days ago

Mr. James M. Hagler is the BEST lawyer. I highly recommend him and his team. He helped me win my case and I got my son back in life. Mr. Hagler always keep me informed, answered the phone every time I called and always had an answer for every question I asked. I knew from the first meeting I had with Mr. Hagler he was going to help me get my son back. He is a very good at what he does. Thank you Mr. James and his team

Kareem Henry

61 days ago

I hired the Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Leaving and the whole staff was great. My Attorney Michael Salamun was awesome, he was very knowledgeable and took time with me to break down and the legal terms so that I was aware of what was going on. In my child support case he saved me thousands with his fight and knowledge.

Cory Taylor

67 days ago

Attorney Brian Gilbert is one of the best attorney's at this law firm. He is very responsive, and goes above and beyond for his clients. The services I received were definitely worth every penny.

Massi Vera

77 days ago

Brian Gilbert at Leving Law is an outstanding attorney. He handled my case with professionalism, speed, and genuine care. Thanks to Brian, I was able to get the results I needed. He made a stressful process much easier and kept me informed every step of the way. I’m so grateful for his help and would highly recommend him to anyone needing a skilled and compassionate family law attorney.

Emmanuel Allen

84 days ago

Anthony D'Agostino really cares about Father's. Helped me with my custody case with my daughter. His honesty and knowledge of the law helped me get my rights to my daughter. E.L

Sunit Singla

85 days ago

As a physician, I operate in environments that require objective data, clear strategy, and the ability to cut through emotional noise. Mr. Ochoa, Mr Madden, and the entire team at Leving Law bring exactly that level of clinical precision to family law. High-conflict family court cases often get bogged down in subjective narratives, and systemic delays. From day one, Mr. Ochoa recognized the structural realities of my case and immediately pivoted the strategy toward objective, fact-based forensic evaluation. He is fiercely protective of his clients and easily dismantles desperate tactics from opposing counsel with sharp, unbothered legal execution. He does not get distracted by the noise; he stays entirely focused on the mission and the facts. For any professional or parent navigating a complex, high-stakes family law situation, I cannot recommend Leving Law Offices highly enough. They are tactical, highly competent, and operate at the absolute highest tier of their profession.

Richhomie Julio

Anthony s .D’agostino really helped me with my child support case and was very professional and kind will most definitely recommend him to friends and family

Resolve Your Paternity Case With Help From Our Chicago Attorneys

As Seen On:

Experienced Illinois Paternity Lawyers

The Importance Of Fathers And Families

When Paternity Proceedings Become Necessary