Paternity & Father’s Rights Attorney in Daytona Beach, FL

In Florida, paternity is established automatically if the mother is married when her child is born. Her husband is recognized as the child’s legal father and his name will be included on the child’s birth certificate. If the mother is unmarried when she gives birth, the child does not technically have a legal father until paternity has been established.

Voluntary Paternity – Voluntary paternity is when the mother and father agree that the man is the child’s biological – and therefore legal – parent. You can voluntarily establish paternity at the hospital when your child is born or later on by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity form.

Involuntary Paternity – Paternity can also be established involuntarily through a court proceeding. If the mother and father disagree on paternity, one party can file a Petition to Adjudicate Parentage to initiate the proceedings. The child or, in some situations, the state may also be able to file this petition.

The Benefits of Establishing Paternity

Establishing paternity does more than just add a man’s name to a child’s birth certificate. It offers numerous benefits to mothers, fathers, and children alike.

BY ESTABLISHING PATERNITY:

• Mothers can receive much-needed child support

• Fathers can have a relationship with their children by exercising their custody and visitation rights

• Fathers can have a say in their child’s upbringing

• Mothers and fathers can share the responsibilities and costs of raising their child

• Children can grow up with two parents, which has been proven to be beneficial to a child’s life

Whether you are a Mother seeking to establish paternity and child support or a Father with custody and visitation issues, call the Law Office of Carol Lee Peake at (386) 868-4039.