Paternity Court 2015
Umbelina Baublitz
Lauren Lake's Paternity Court (originally known as Paternity Court) is a nontraditional court show in which family lawyer and legal analyst Lauren Lake heard and ruled on paternity cases and rendered DNA test results.
The show was produced by 79th & York Entertainment and Orion Television, and was distributed by MGM Domestic Television Distribution.[1] Paternity Court was executive produced by David Armour, and directed by Stacie Saugen.[2][3] The series was MGM's first first-run syndication series to come to the market after a lull period in this arena.
Paternity Court premiered on Monday, September 23, 2013.[4] The court show's first day of taping was on June 13, 2013.[5] By the 2nd season, Lake's name was added to the title of the series, Lauren Lake's Paternity Court.[6][7] Production also moved from Los Angeles to the Georgia Public Broadcasting studios in Atlanta that season.[7]
In 2019 following its 6th season, the show received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program. After its 7th season in early 2020, however, Lauren Lake's Paternity Court ended production, confirmed as cancelled by 2021. MGM discarded of all of its courtroom programming following financial struggles from the COVID-19 pandemic and new owner Amazon's disinterest in broadcast syndication.[8]
Reports of the series first emerged in December 2012. As early as December 2012, 9 months before its debut, the court show had already been sold in 75% of the country. Stations acquired the show on an all-barter basis with 3 minutes of local and 3 minutes of national advertising time in every episode.[2][3] By August 2013, the show was sold in 92% of the country.[9]
Producers of the series have argued at the same time that Paternity Court and Maury do contrast, as Paternity Court does not focus on the narrative of Maury in building tabloid drama solely from the "who's your daddy?" question posed by paternity tests and the issues of multiple partners possibly being so with only bare follow-ups by that show's staff, but instead uses the tests on their show to build long-term relationships in a healthy manner once those results are revealed.[1] As reported in late 2012, court programming is the second highest-rated genre on daytime television.[10] Bryan has stated the goal of Paternity Court is to reinvigorate the court show genre.[9]
Paternity Court is a half-hour hybrid of a talk show using the court show plaintiff/defendant format. Lake talks to the show's litigants and decides cases based upon the results of DNA tests. While the show's title is Paternity Court, it also looks into other situations using DNA verification, such as probate disputes over wills, which are litigated under a binding arbitration arrangement.[2][3]
Unlike most present-day court shows which typically have two cases in each episode, Paternity Court only focuses on one case per episode, though a second case can make an uncommon appearance.[11] Lake takes time before and after the results to speak with her litigants.[9]
It was announced on June 22, 2021, that Lake will return to television in a revival of the courtroom series, We the People, previously helmed by Gloria Allred. Lake will preside over her own edition of the series We the People with Judge Lauren Lake. Similarly to its first installment with Allred, the court show will be produced by Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios, airing on JusticeCentralTV. The show is set to join a series of sister television court shows of that network including America's Court with Judge Ross, Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez, Justice with Judge Mablean, Supreme Court with Judge Karen and The Verdict with Judge Hatchett.[15]
Paternity Court has two sister shows: Couples Court with the Cutlers, which was hosted by Keith and Dana Cutler and follows a similar approach of using evidence and testing to prove or disprove infidelity; and Personal Injury Court, which is hosted by Gino Brogdon and saw personal injury cases.[16] All three court shows ended production in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, later confirmed as cancelled.
When the mother and father disagree about paternity or just want to make sure of the biological father, the Office of the Attorney General may file a petition asking that the court establish an alleged father as the biological father. In this case, the court will often order the alleged father take a paternity test.
A paternity test is simple - the parents and child(ren) have their cheeks swabbed either in court, at a local clinic, or at a local Child Support office. DNA tests can determine the biological father with 99% accuracy.
Effective July 1, 2015, the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) is required by law to conduct paternity testing in all newly established child support cases in which paternity has not already been established. Paternity establishment by DCSS may be processed through a local Superior Court or through an Administrative Court, depending on the county of your residence. Paternity testing is available in both these processes.
If paternity testing is necessary and the alleged father is found to be the biological father, he will be responsible for reimbursing DCSS for the paternity testing fee. If the alleged father is excluded as the biological father, the biological mother who applied for services will responsible for reimbursing DCSS for the paternity testing fee. The paternity testing fee will not be charged to mothers who are receiving TANF or Family Medicaid, grandparents raising grandchildren, or relative or non-relative third-party custodians. Currently, the cost for paternity testing is $40 per person. For mother, father, and one child, the total cost of paternity testing through DCSS is $120.
Additionally, if unwed parents have established paternity through the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement Program, the DCSS can take action(s) to obtain and/or enforce a child support order (i.e. monetary child support and/or health insurance) for you if you apply for services.
The Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement Program was established by federal law in 1988. Federal laws relating to this program have been updated several times since 1988 to ensure an easy process is in place to assist unwed parents in establishing paternity for their child.
Child Support Services and its child visitation providers do not offer legal services related to visitation. Legal services related to visitation include legitimation and the establishment of visitation orders. Legal help must be obtained from other resources. For those who want to consider filing an action in court on their own, below is a list of resources by county. These sites have forms, instructions, and information about legitimation and visitation.
The Cobb County Superior Court Family Law Workshop is available to any Cobb resident or person with a family law issue related to Cobb County can visit the center at 30 Waddell Street, Marietta, GA 30090. They offer a free workshop that provides answers to basic questions about divorce, paternity/legitimation, contempt, and modification cases. You may call (770) 528-8100.
The DeKalb County Superior Court's Family Law Information Center is available to any DeKalb resident or person with a family law issue related to DeKalb County can visit the center at its location at 120 West Trinity Place, Decatur, Ga. 30030. Brief, legal consultations with an attorney are available for $10 by calling and making an appointment.You may call (404) 687-3990.
The Dougherty County Superior Court Law Library is available to any Dougherty resident or person with a family law issue related to Dougherty County can visit the center at its location at 225 Pine Avenue, Room 212, Albany, GA 31702. The library manager, who is an attorney, is available to provide assistance with conducting research, finding appropriate materials and possible legal resources, suggesting self-help resources, and answering legal reference questions in person or by e-mail. However, the library manager is not permitted to give legal advice or interpret specific legal situations. You may call (229) 431-2133.
The Appalachian Family Law Information Center serving Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens counties are available to any Fannin, Gilmer or Pickens resident or person with a family law issue related to these counties can visit the center at its location at 1 Broad Street, Suite 102 A, Ellijay, GA 30540. Brief, legal consultations with an attorney are available by appointment for income-qualified individuals. You may call (706) 299-1444.
The Fulton County Superior Court Family Division's Family Law Information Center is available to any resident of the State of Georgia can visit the center in person at its location. The address is 185 Central Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303. One can receive a free, brief legal consultation with an attorney by calling and making an appointment. However, a non-custodial parent must follow the guidelines of the county with legal jurisdiction over his/her particular legal issues. You may call (404) 612-2789.
The Hall and Dawson County Superior Court Family Law Information Center is available to any Hall or Dawson resident or person with a family law issue related to Hall or Dawson Counties can visit the center at its location at 225 Green Street, S.E., Gainesville, GA 30501. Brief, legal consultations with an attorney are available at no cost in Dawson County. However, a financial qualification is required for attorney consultations in Hall County. You may call (770) 531-2463.
The Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Georgia Legal Services Program and the Pro Bono Project of the State Bar of Georgia is available to all residents of Georgia. It is a guide to free legal information and services including the topics of legitimation, visitation, and custody.
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