Boeheim Freeman Law
Paternity
Protecting parental rights and children's futures through clear, legally binding paternity establishment.
Establishing Legal Rights and Responsibilities With Clarity and Conviction
Establishing paternity is the critical first step in securing parental rights and ensuring children receive the financial and emotional support they deserve from both parents. Whether you are a father seeking to establish your rights, a mother seeking to establish support obligations, or a party contesting paternity, the attorneys at Boeheim Freeman Law provide clear, decisive legal guidance through every step of the process.
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Schedule Consultation(918) 884-7791What We Handle in Paternity Cases
Voluntary Acknowledgment
When both parents agree, paternity can be established through a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity — a straightforward process we can guide you through.
Court-Ordered DNA Testing
When paternity is disputed, we petition the court for DNA testing and present the results to establish or disprove biological parentage.
Father's Rights
Establishing paternity gives fathers the legal right to seek custody and visitation. We fight to ensure fathers have meaningful relationships with their children.
Paternity & Child Support
Once paternity is established, we help clients pursue or defend child support obligations based on Oklahoma's guidelines.
Disestablishment of Paternity
If you have been incorrectly identified as a father, we can help you challenge a paternity determination and seek relief from support obligations.
Benefits for the Child
Legal paternity entitles children to inheritance rights, Social Security benefits, health insurance coverage, and access to the father's medical history.
What to Expect Working With Us
Step 01
Case Review
We evaluate your situation, explain your rights under Oklahoma law, and determine the most efficient path to establishing or contesting paternity.
Step 02
Filing & Testing
We handle all court filings, coordinate DNA testing when required, and manage all communications with opposing counsel and the court.
Step 03
Custody & Support
Once paternity is established, we move immediately to address custody, visitation, and support to protect your rights and your child's future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing the birth certificate give me custody or visitation?
No. In Oklahoma, signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) at the hospital only establishes "legal fatherhood" for the purposes of the birth certificate and child support. It does not grant custody or visitation rights. Under Oklahoma law, an unmarried mother has sole legal and physical custody until a father files a "Petition to Establish Paternity, Custody, and Support" in a Tulsa court. We often see fathers wait years thinking the AOP protects them, only to find they have no legal right to see their child during a dispute. We help Tulsa fathers transition from "AOP father" to "Custodial parent."
How does the 2026 "50/50 Law" apply to unmarried fathers?
Once paternity is legally established by a court order, the 2026 SB 1708 presumption applies. This means the judge starts with the assumption that 50/50 joint custody is in the child's best interest. For unmarried fathers, this is a massive shift from previous years where the "mother-first" bias was prevalent. To get 50/50, you must first have a court declare you the legal father. Our 2026 litigation strategy for unmarried fathers focuses on establishing paternity and immediately invoking the SB 1708 presumption to skip the "visitor" phase and go straight to "equal parent."
Can I contest paternity if I signed the AOP but now have doubts?
Yes, but the window is narrow. You have 60 days to rescind an AOP for any reason. After 60 days, you can only challenge it in a Tulsa court based on fraud, duress, or a material mistake of fact. Generally, if you wait longer than two years after the child's birth, it becomes extremely difficult to contest paternity in Oklahoma, even with DNA proof. We represent men in "Paternity Fraud" cases, working quickly to file the necessary motions before the strict Oklahoma statutory deadlines expire.
How do I get a court-ordered DNA test in Tulsa?
If there is a dispute or if the mother refuses a test, you must file a Paternity Action in Tulsa County. The court has the authority to order all parties (mother, child, and alleged father) to submit to genetic testing. In 2026, Tulsa courts generally only recognize "admissible" lab tests — not home kits — as valid evidence for a legal paternity decree. We coordinate with local Tulsa labs to ensure DNA samples are collected via a "chain of custody" that will hold up in court, preventing delays caused by inadmissible evidence.
Can a mother seek "Back Child Support" in a paternity case?
Yes. In Oklahoma, a mother can seek "prior maintenance" (back support) for the five years preceding the filing of the paternity action. This includes a portion of the birthing costs and the child's living expenses. The court calculates this based on both parents' incomes during those specific years. We help fathers mitigate back-support claims by documenting previous informal payments or "in-kind" support (like buying diapers or health insurance) provided before the case was filed.
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Contact Boeheim Freeman Law today for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced paternity attorney in Tulsa.
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