Establishing and contesting paternity

Parentage / Establishing and contesting paternity or maternity
·         Who are the legal parents of a child?
·         How can legal parentage be established?
·         Can legal parentage be informally decided upon, without a lawyer or court proceedings?
·         What legal status do parents have?
·         What is an Order / notion of Filiation?
·         Can parentage be rescinded?
·         What cross-border implications play a role in establishing parentage?

“Mater semper certa est. Pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant” – “The mother is always certain. The father is who the marriage proves to be." This Latin legal maxim has long since lost its validity due not only to changes in attitude, but also to the possibilities offered by technological developments; such as is provided for by for example: egg donation, surrogacy and paternity tests. However, the legal issues have not diminished as a result. Rather, establishing and contesting parentage has become potentially a legal minefield, especially if cross-border implications come into play. However complicated, who the legal parents of a child are must be legally established: not only in order to provide a child with emotional, social and economic ties; but also in order to ensure its legal rights and privileges: such as for example, the rights to parental medical and life insurance benefits, the right to inherit, as well as access to citizenship, social security benefits, or education amongst others.We can advise and represent you, assist you with all (official) procedures, navigate you through Austrian law in English and ensure that your interests are legally enforced and protected (contact).

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