Instructions: How To Fill Out Forms To Respond To A Petition To Establish Paternity, Legal Decision Making And Parenting Time (Page 4 of 4) in pdf

SOLE LEGAL DECISION MAKING: Tell the court whether you want legal decision

making of the minor child(ren) to go to you or the opposing party. Then, tell the court

about parenting time.

PARENTING TIME: Mark one box only. You can ask that the non-custodial parent (the

parent having physical legal decision making of the minor child(ren) less than 50% of the

time) have one of the following types of parenting time:

Reasonable Parenting Time. This suggests an amount of parenting time appropriate to

the age of the minor child(ren). The court offers suggested amounts of parenting time,

but the amount can vary by agreement of both parents.

Supervised Parenting Time to the Non-Custodial Parent. You may request

supervised Parenting Time if the Non-Custodial parent cannot adequately care for the

minor child(ren) or cannot do so without another person present. You may request this if

the person not having legal decision making abuses drugs or alcohol; is violent or

abusive; or, does not have the parenting skills to care for the minor child(ren) without

another adult present. Remember, supervised or no parenting time is not intended to

punish the parent, but to protect the minor child(ren). You must write in specifically why

you say the parenting time should be supervised, the person who should supervise,

requested restrictions and who should pay the cost of supervised parenting time.

No Parenting Time to the Non-Custodial Parent. You must write in why there should

be no parenting time. You should mark this option only if the non-custodial parent has

seriously harmed, abused, or otherwise is a serious danger to the minor child(ren)’s

physical and emotional health, or if there is a criminal Court Order stating there is to be

no contact between the minor child(ren) and the non-custodial parent.

JOINT LEGAL DECISION MAKING. If you are asking for joint legal decision making,

you must file a Parenting Plan, which sets forth the Joint Legal Decision Making

Agreement that is signed by both parents and approved by the Court.

CHILD SUPPORT: Mark which party should pay child support.

MOTHER’S EXPENSES: Mark this box indicating if Petitioner or Respondent should be required

to pay expenses relating to the birth of the minor child(ren).

HEALTH, MEDICAL, DENTAL INSURANCE AND HEALTH CARE EXPENSES: Mark which

party should be responsible for health, medical and dental insurance.

TESTING AND COSTS: Mark this box to ask who should pay for blood or tissue tests necessary

to establish paternity. Generally, if the father opposes the paternity order, and the tests prove the

person is the father, the court will order the father to pay all testing costs.

OTHER ORDERS. Mark this box only if you have made other requests of the Court. If you mark

the box, write the specific additional orders you are requesting the Court to make that were not

covered elsewhere in your Response/Answer.

OATH AND VERIFICATION:

Sign this form in front of a notary or court clerk. By doing so you are

telling the court that everything contained in the Paternity Response is true. Then mail a copy of your

Response and other documents to the other party and sign your name telling the court you have mailed

the documents or you will mail the documents.

NEXT STEP:

Then read the document in the instructions packet called PROCEDURES: HOW TO

FILE A RESPONSE TO A PETITION TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY.

Page 4 of 4

Revised: 1/1/2013

Instructions: How To Fill Out Forms To Respond To A Petition To Establish Paternity, Legal Decision Making And Parenting Time Page 4

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