What Options do I Have as a Father in a Paternity Case?

In any paternity complaint, there are two factual situations. The first factual situation is that the child is unborn. The second factual situation is that the child is born. In San Diego County, you can file a complaint to establish a paternal relationship even if the child is not yet born. This is very important to protect the father's rights, because that will give jurisdiction to San Diego County. In a complaint to establish a paternal relationship, you can allege that sexual intercourse occurred in San Diego. That can be the basis for jurisdiction. In the second factual situation where a child is already born, you can file the complaint to establish a paternal relationship normally wherever the child has been living for at least six months. You file that in the county courthouse where the child has resided for at least six months. By filing the complaint to establish a paternal relationship and having it served, that gives the court jurisdiction to make orders for parenting plans so that you can see your child.