Paternity

Paternity Attorney Fort Lauderdale

In the state of Florida, if the mother is married at the time of birth, the husband is the legal father of the child. However, many women aren’t married when their child is born. In these instances, the mother, the father, or both parents may want to establish paternity so that they can pursue their legal rights through the Florida courts. At Stacy Weissman Davis, P.A. our Fort Lauderdale paternity lawyers can help you establish paternity and/or assert parental rights.

5 ways to establish paternity in Florida

1. Marriage: The husband is considered the legal father when parents are married at the time of the child’s birth.
2. Legitimation: The father and mother are married after the birth of the child and update the birth record.
3. Administrative order based on genetic testing: Paternity is ordered if a DNA test determines who the father is.
4. Establishing paternity through a court order: A judge can order paternity in court in some instances
5. Acknowledgment of paternity: An unmarried couple can declare paternity by signing a document after the birth

The Benefits of Establishing Paternity

As a mother, identifying your child’s biological father gives you the ability to obtain a child support order from the courts. Similarly, as the biological father of a child, you would have the right to seek visitation and exercise your right to participate in decisions regarding the child’s education, medical care, residence, etc. In addition, certain work or government benefits that may not have been previously available may now be extended to the father’s child.

Paternity Lawyer Fort Lauderdale

Once your child’s paternity has been established, our firm can also assist you with matters regarding timesharing, child support, parenting plans, birth certificate changes, name changes, and more. Let Stacy Weissman Davis, P.A. help you assert your rights by learning more about the options available in your case.