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Paternity & Parentage

Establishing legal parentage for unmarried parents in Colorado — the rights, the duties, and the fastest path to a parenting order.

Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On Colorado's Legal Front Lines Since 1995 · Government Investigator, Denver Human Services (1997–2003) · Licensed Colorado Attorney Since 2003 ~ 20+ Years in Private Practice · Colorado Deputy District Attorney (2018–2020) · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator

How We Help

Legal parent first — everything else follows

For unmarried parents, nothing is automatic. Until parentage is legally established under Colorado’s Uniform Parentage Act (C.R.S. § 19-4-101), an unmarried father has no enforceable right to see his child and a mother has no support order to enforce. Establishing parentage is the door that opens parenting time, decision-making, and child support all at once.

Establishing parentage — a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage (VAP), genetic testing, or a court action under C.R.S. § 19-4-105. We pick the fastest route your facts allow.
Parenting time & decision-making — once parentage is set, we allocate parental responsibilities under the best-interests standard (C.R.S. § 14-10-124), exactly like any custody case.
Child support — a parentage order opens support under the C.R.S. § 14-10-115 income-shares guideline, and can reach back to birth in the right case. Run the numbers with our calculator.
Presumptions & disputes — confirming or challenging a presumed father, disestablishment, and de-facto/psychological-parent claims.
Same-sex parents & assisted reproduction — parentage for LGBTQ+ families, second-parent adoption, and donor issues.
Name & birth certificate — adding a legal parent and, where appropriate, changing the child’s surname.

Ready when you are — talk it through with Charles.

Your choice: no-charge 20-minute phone call OR in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Charles.

A parentage case is a custody case in disguise

Because establishing parentage triggers custody and support at the same time, the smartest move is to plan all three together from day one — not fix them one lawsuit at a time.

Fees you can plan around: clear fee agreements, flexible payment plans through Affirm, and secure payments with Square.
THE LONGMONT LAW FIRM
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq.
Attorney & Counselor at Law

Take the first step. We'll take it from there.

No-charge 20-minute phone consultation, or an in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Charles.