Paternity:

Pursuant to Florida law, a Father who has a child without being married to the Mother does not have legal rights concerning that child until a court enters a Final Judgment Establishing Paternity. Establishing Paternity is a necessary step for any Father that wants to have rights over a child that was born out of wedlock, including the right to have access to spend time with their child (timesharing), and the right to be involved in making major decisions regarding their child (parental responsibility).

Filing a Petition to Establish Paternity is necessary for a Father to accomplish the following:

1. Establish that he is the child’s legal Father (not just the biological Father).
2. Establish a Parenting Plan that includes decision-making authority and a timesharing schedule concerning that child.
3. Establish both parties’ obligations concerning the support of the child.

For more information on the issues that are resolved through filing a Petition to Establish Paternity, contact our office for your free consultation so we can discuss your case's particulars.