Ryabchuk Oksana

Lawyer

E-mail

riabchuk@prikhodko.com.ua

Phone numbers

Specializes in family law and inheritance matters.

Establishing the fact of paternity

Paternity recognition is an official process that establishes a legal link between a child and their biological father. This is especially important for children born out of wedlock, when paternity cannot be confirmed automatically.

The need to establish a child’s parentage from a specific man arises not only when the father refuses to acknowledge the child.

People also apply to court after the death of the presumed father for the purpose of inheritance, social benefits, alimony, or entering correct information into the birth registration record.

The outcome of the case depends on whether the type of proceedings is correctly determined, the application is prepared, and evidence is collected. That is why, before applying to the court, it is worth conducting a legal analysis of the situation.

When is establishing the fact of paternity necessary?

In everyday life, the concept of “establishing paternity” is often used for various procedures. However, from a legal point of view, it is important to distinguish between paternity recognition by court decision and establishing the fact of paternity.

If the man is alive but has not filed a joint application with the mother to the Civil Registry Office (DRACS) or denies his paternity, the issue is usually resolved in litigation proceedings. The court checks for the existence of a dispute, examines the evidence, and decides whether the child descends from the defendant.

Establishing the fact of paternity is applied after the death of a man who was not married to the child’s mother. Such a case is considered in separate proceedings if the record about the father in the birth documents was made according to the rules of part one of Article 135 of the Family Code of Ukraine.

If a dispute about a right arises between heirs or other persons, the court may require the issue to be resolved in litigation.

Applying to the court may be necessary for:

confirming a kinship;
exercising inheritance rights;
receiving a survivor’s pension;
social assistance;
changing information in the birth certificate or protecting other rights of the child.

Recognizing the paternity of an adult child is also possible if there are legal grounds and a legal purpose for doing so.

Lawyer’s services for establishing paternity

A lawyer helps determine which method of protection corresponds to the client’s circumstances. A mistake in choosing between a claim and an application in separate proceedings can lead to loss of time, return of documents, or the application being left without consideration.

Legal assistance covers:

consultation;
analysis of the birth record;
verification of death documents;
evaluation of evidence;
preparation of an application or claim;
determining the circle of participants in the case and forming a legal position.

If necessary, a lawyer prepares a motion to request documents, summon witnesses, or conduct molecular-genetic expertise, and also represents the client’s interests in court.

Advantages of working with “Prykhodko and Partners”

experience in handling family and inheritance cases;
careful work with written, electronic, and biological evidence;
preparation of procedural documents for specific circumstances;
confidentiality and clear communication;
support from the initial consultation to the execution of the court decision;
preliminary agreement on the scope of work and cost of services.

Procedure for establishing paternity

The first step is to determine the factual circumstances: whether the presumed father is alive, whether the parents were married, how exactly the information was entered into the record, and why the client needs a court decision. After this, the appropriate type of proceedings and the court to which one should apply are determined.

Next, procedural documents and evidence are prepared. In the application, it is necessary to clearly describe the relationship between the parents, the circumstances of the child’s birth, the man’s behavior during his lifetime, the legal purpose of establishing the fact, and a list of materials that confirm this. In a litigation case, requirements for the defendant are additionally justified.

After the opening of proceedings, the court hears the participants and witnesses, examines the documents, and, if necessary, decides the issue of an expert examination. After the decision enters into legal force, it is used to make changes to the birth record and to formalize related rights.

Documents and evidence for establishing paternity

There is no single list of evidence for all cases. The set depends on the child’s date of birth, the parents’ marital status, the existence of a dispute, and the possibility of conducting a genetic study.

birth certificate and extract from the registry record;
passport documents of the applicant and documents confirming representation;
death certificate or court decision declaring a person dead;
photographs, correspondence, messages, joint questionnaires, or statements;
evidence of cohabitation, running a household, or financial support of the child;
testimonies of relatives, friends, neighbors, and other witnesses;
medical documents, expert conclusions, and results of DNA testing;
documents confirming the purpose of the application, in particular, materials of the inheritance case.

A DNA test for paternity has high evidentiary value, but the court evaluates all materials in their entirety.

After the death of the presumed father, biological samples or the child’s kinship with the deceased’s close relatives may be investigated. The possibility and feasibility of such an examination are determined individually.

It will also be useful: Establishing paternity through the court

Stages of cooperation with a lawyer

Stage	Scope of work
Initial consultation	Clarification of circumstances, purpose of the application, and possible risks.
Material analysis	Checking registry records, documents, and available evidence.
Strategy formation	Choosing the type of proceedings, circle of participants, and method of proof.
Preparation of documents	Drawing up an application, claim, motions, and a list of attachments.
Court representation	Participation in hearings, work with witnesses, and expertise.
Actions after the decision	Consultation regarding the Civil Registry Office, inheritance, payments, or other rights.

Cost of establishing the fact of paternity

The price of legal assistance depends on the complexity of the case, the number of participants, the volume of evidence, the need to obtain documents from other institutions, conduct expertise, and participate in court hearings.

Court fees, expert studies, translation, notarization, and postal expenses may be paid separately.

Service	What is included	Cost
Consultation	Analysis of the situation and determination of the procedure	Individually
Preparation of application or claim	Legal position, document text, attachments	After analysis of materials
Representation in court	Procedural documents and participation in hearings	Depends on the scope of work
Comprehensive support	Case management until the decision is obtained	Agreed with the client

Establishing a child’s parentage affects personal, inheritance, alimony, and social rights.

In such cases, what is important is not template wording, but the correct procedure, a convincing evidentiary base, and a clearly formulated legal goal.

Lawyers of “Prikhodko and Partners” will help assess the prospects of the case, prepare documents, and ensure the representation of interests in court.

Calculate the cost of services

1 question

Have you already applied to guardianship authorities?

Yes

2 question

Is there arrears in child support payments?

Yes

3 question

Do you need legal assistance urgently?

Yes

Successful cases on the topic:

Helped the client in the process of deprivation of parental rights and collection of alimony

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Appeal against the decision of the Medical and social expert commission

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Family law

A claim for guardianship A court decision on independent upbringing and maintenance of a child as a basis for obtaining a deferment A guardianship lawyer A lawsuit to declare a person incapable A statement of claim for recognition of a person as having lost the right to use residential premises A statement of claim for the recognition of a person with limited legal capacity A statement of claim to declare a person incapable Accompaniment of a lawyer in the children’s service Accompanying a person who needs constant care abroad Adoption of an adult Adoption of the wife’s child from the first marriage Agreement on maintenance and education of a child Agreement on the division of marital property Annulment of birth certificate Apostille and consular legalization of inheritance documents APOSTILLE AND LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS IN UKRAINE Apostille for death certificate Apostille on the birth certificate APOSTILLE ON THE DECISION OF THE COURT Apostille on the marriage certificate Appeal against a court decision on divorce Appeal against the decision of the Medical and social expert commission Appeal against the refusal to register permanent care Appeal of inheritance contract Appealing a court decision on deprivation of parental rights Appealing the decisions and actions of the notary when registering the inheritance Applying for a deferment for a guardian of a person with a disability Arrange permanent care for an elderly person Automatic acceptance of inheritance Care on a non-professional basis for parents Certificate of child maintenance by stepfather Certificate of establishment of the fact of providing care for obtaining a deferral Certificate of last place of residence of the deceased CERTIFICATE OF PARENTS OF A LARGE FAMILY AS A BASIS FOR CROSSING THE BORDER CERTIFICATE OF THE FATHER OF MANY CHILDREN IF CHILDREN ARE FROM DIFFERENT MARRIAGES Challenge a will Change of surname to maiden name after divorce Changing a child’s last name during adoption Changing the child’s last name Changing the child’s surname without the consent of the father Changing the surname of a child up to 14 years old Claim for property division COLLECTION OF ALIMONY Collection of alimony from a person residing abroad Collection of alimony from seafarers abroad Conclusion of a marriage contract CONCLUSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD AND DETERMINATION OF THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE Conclusion of the MAC on the need for permanent external care Confirmation of independent maintenance of the child Constant care for a wife with disability group II Consultation of a lawyer on issues of surrogacy in Ukraine Contesting paternity and excluding information from the child’s birth record Contesting the gift contract Crossing the border on the basis of the act of establishing the fact of providing care Custody of the property of a person who is recognized as missing Declaration of a missing person Declaring a relative missing Deferral from mobilization based on the conclusion of the MAC Deprivation of parental rights Deprivation of parental rights abroad Deprivation of the mother’s parental rights Dissolution of marriage at the registry office or through the court Distribution of property upon divorce in Ukraine Division of foreign assets upon divorce Division of marital property: Crypto assets Division of property in case of divorce DIVISION OF PROPERTY IN DIVORCE DIVORCE Divorce if one of the spouses disappeared during hostilities Divorce online DIVORCE SERVICES Divorce without the presence of one of the spouses Establishing a legal fact in court in accordance with Ukrainian legislation Establishing custody of the child Establishing guardianship over a child through the court Establishing or challenging paternity Establishing paternity after the death of a military person Establishing paternity through the court Establishing the fact of child maintenance ESTABLISHING THE FACT OF DEATH IN TEMPORARY OCCUPATED TERRITORIES Establishing the fact of family relations Establishing the fact of family relationships to receive compensation in connection with the death of a serviceman Establishing the fact of family ties through the court Establishing the fact of living as one family Establishing the fact of living in the same family with the testator Establishing the fact of non-acceptance of inheritance Establishing the fact of paternity Establishing the fact of paternity after death Establishing the fact that the child is maintained by the stepfather Establishing the order of participation in raising a child ESTABLISHMENT OF FUNDS AND TRUSTS Establishment of guardianship Establishment of guardianship in court Establishment of guardianship over a disabled person of the 2nd group Establishment of guardianship over an elderly person Establishment of guardianship over an incapacitated person Establishment of guardianship over the mother Establishment of guardianship over the property of an incapacitated person Establishment of the fact 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Inheritance disputes Inheritance in Ukraine for Ukrainian citizens living abroad Inheritance lawyer abroad INHERITANCE OF BANK DEPOSITS Invalidation of a marriage Issuance of duplicate certificates and extracts from the Civil Registry Office Legal support for marriage registration in Ukraine Legal support for the adoption of a child Legal support of surrogate motherhood Legalization of a divorce certificate issued abroad Legalization of a marriage concluded abroad Legalization of a marriage concluded in Poland Making changes to the act record of the birth of a child Marriage certificate abroad Marriage contract Marriage contract with a foreigner MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION SERVICES ABROAD Marriage registration under martial law Notarized agreement on child support and upbringing Obtaining a border crossing permit in EU countries for minor children OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF A FATHER WITH MANY CHILDREN Obtaining a certificate of MAC on permanent care Obtaining a certificate of marital status Obtaining a death certificate Obtaining a duplicate birth certificate Obtaining a marriage certificate again Obtaining a MSEC certificate of disability Obtaining the conclusion of the Medical Advisory Committee: stages, necessary documents and step-by-step legal assistance Obtaining the MAC Conclusion in form 080-4/o Permanent care for a disabled person of the 1st group Permanent care for a disabled person of the 2nd group as a basis for postponement Permanent care for an elderly person. Postponement Probate lawyer PROCEDURE FOR CARE OF THE DISABLED GROUP 2 Procedure for establishing guardianship Proving the fact of maintenance of an illegitimate child Provision of care for children with disabilities in Ukraine Receiving an inheritance in Ukraine if you are abroad Receiving compensation by the heir for damaged or destroyed property Recognition of a foreign divorce decree in Ukraine Recognition of a person as incapable and appointment of a guardian RECOGNITION OF A PERSON AS MISSING OR DECEASED Recognition of a person as partially disabled Recognition of inheritance as dead Recognition of ownership rights over the deceased Recognition of paternity for the collection of alimony abroad Recognition of paternity through the State Civil Registry Office Recognition of the right to inheritance Reduction of alimony Refusal of inheritance in favor of another person Registration of a child born through reproductive medicine REGISTRATION OF A DONATION (DONATION AGREEMENT) Registration of care for a father: algorithm of actions Registration of care on a non-professional basis Registration of divorce abroad Registration of guardianship over a disabled child Registration of guardianship over a disabled person of the 1st group Registration of guardianship over a disabled person of the 2nd group Registration of guardianship over an elderly person Registration of inheritance Registration of inheritance in the occupied territory REGISTRATION OF PERMANENT CARE – 2025 Registration of permanent care for the wife REGISTRATION OF PERMISSION FOR THE CHILD TO GO ABROAD FROM ONE OF THE PARENTS Registration of the birth of a child in the occupied territory Registration of the birth of a child in the surrogate motherhood program in Ukraine Reissue of marriage certificate Removal of seizure from immovable property in an inheritance case Renewal of parental rights Renewal of permanent care Renewal of the birth certificate Representation in the guardianship and guardianship authorities REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE LAWYER Restriction of parental rights Return of the child to the parents Returning a child to parents from social services abroad Setting a schedule of visits with your child Statement of claim for collection of alimony for a child Statement of claim for deprivation of parental rights Statement of claim for the adoption of a child Statement of claim for the removal of seizure from inherited property Support for divorce in Poland Support for registration of marriage with a military man Support in determining the place of residence of a child with his biological father Surname change after marriage with a foreigner Termination of parental rights by father’s consent THE TRANSFER OF LAND BY INHERITANCE THE TRANSFER OF REAL ESTATE TO INHERITANCE Travel abroad of a guardian of a disabled child Travel abroad of a guardian of an incapacitated person Turnkey divorce URGENT DIVORCE Voluntary relinquishment of parental rights