Paternity in Florida: An Overview
In Florida, paternity establishes legal fatherhood, and can be done in several ways.
August 25, 2012
Before a man is able to have all of the rights and responsibilities of being a father, he must be determined to be the "legal father" of his son or daughter -- this is done by establishing paternity.Establishing Paternity
In the state of Florida, if a couple is married, the husband is presumed to be the legal father of a child born during the marriage without any other evidence. However, if a couple is unmarried, paternity will need to be established before a man will be recognized as the legal father of a child.
In addition to marriage, paternity can be established in four other ways in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Revenue those are:
- Acknowledgment -- The parents sign a legal document stating who is the father of the child.
- Genetic testing -- Paternity is proved through DNA testing.
- Court order -- Paternity is ordered in a legal proceeding.
- Legitimation -- The parents of the child get married after the child is born and the birth certificate is updated.
Impact of Paternity
Establishing paternity will give both parents legal rights, such as giving the mother a right to child support and the father the right to visitation. More importantly, however, the Florida Department of Revenue notes that determining the legal father will provide the child with many benefits, including access to:
- The identity of his or her father
- Support from both parents
- Health insurance
- Family medical history
- Inheritance
- Social Security or veterans' benefits
If you believe that you are the father of a child and want to be part of your son or daughter's life, speak with an experienced family law attorney about establishing yourself as the legal father through paternity.
Article provided by Brodie & Friedman, P.A.
Visit us at www.brodiefriedman.com