Category Archives: Paternity
Rights of Biological Fathers Reassessed in Groundbreaking Case
Florida law has long held that a child born into an intact marriage is presumed to be the biological child of the mother’s husband. However, a recently issued ruling from the Florida Supreme Court struck down this decades-old rule, which could mean that biological fathers of children born to women who are married to… Read More »
Why it is Important to Establish Paternity
Under Florida law, when a couple is married, any children born during that union are presumed to be the biological offspring of the mother’s husband. The issue of establishing paternity becomes much more difficult, however, when a child’s parents are not married. In these cases, the alleged father must go through a series of… Read More »
Paternal Rights for Sperm Donors
Parents in same-sex relationships still face many legal hurdles that heterosexual couples do not have to deal with, so it is not uncommon for same-sex parents to have concerns about their parental rights if a donor was involved in their child’s conception. Although this is still an evolving area of the law, a New… Read More »
Disestablishing Paternity
When a child is born to a married couple, the husband is automatically presumed to be the child’s father. While many fathers are happy to be parents, the designation can become complicated if an individual discovers that he may not be the child’s biological father. In these cases, the man may wish to disestablish… Read More »
The Different Types of Paternity Tests
In Florida, paternity can only be established in certain ways. For instance, if a mother was married at the time of a child’s birth, then her husband will be presumed to be the father. Otherwise, both parents must sign an acknowledgement of paternity at the hospital. Fortunately, even if a father was not married… Read More »
Paternity in Florida and Why it Matters
Across the country, over 40 percent of all childbirths are to unmarried women. With this rising trend, paternity is increasingly becoming something that needs to be established following the birth of a child. In the state of Florida, if a married woman gives birth the law automatically grants paternity to the woman’s husband, however,… Read More »
The Father’s Right Before Birth
In today’s society, many marriages ultimately end in divorce. With such a high chance of being separated, fathers are becoming more knowledgeable of their rights. However, what many dads may not know are the rights they have before the child’s birth. This little discussed topic is slowly gaining traction as an increasing number of… Read More »
Importance of Establishing Paternity
Immediately following a separation or divorce, custody and visitation often become a point of contention. Former spouses who are able to agree to financial matters and property divisions may find themselves unable to agree on issues concerning minor children. When custody has become, or will become, an issue, the importance of establishing paternity cannot… Read More »
What Is The Florida Putative Father Registry, And How Can It Affect My Child’s Pending Adoption?
What is the Florida Putative Father Registry? The Florida Putative Father Registry is a central state registry maintained within the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The purpose of the Florida Putative Father Registry is to allow a man, who believes he is the biological father of child who’s mother he is not married to,… Read More »
The Link between Paternity and Fraud
On March 18th, Huffington Post featured an interesting article about the link between paternity tests, family law courts, and fraud. Specifically, the article discussed current issues related to fathers paying child support for children that are not theirs, and, conversely, actual biological fathers being obstructed from having a relationship with their children. The article… Read More »
