Category Archives: Paternity
Involuntary Paternity Determinations
When a married woman gives birth to a child, it is presumed, for legal purposes, that her husband is the child’s father. The issue of paternity becomes more complicated, however, for parents who are unmarried. In these cases, it may be necessary to go through the courts to establish paternity, often against the putative… Read More »
Five Options for Establishing Paternity
The relationship between a child and a parent is one of the most important in a person’s life. Determining whether this relationship exists, however, can be difficult, especially for fathers. In Florida, there are a few different options for establishing paternity. Which of these options is best for a family depends on the specific… Read More »
Can I Establish Paternity in Florida with a Birth Certificate?
In Florida, parents have certain rights and obligations in regards to their children. For instance, while parents have a right to visitation with their children, they are also required to financially support them. Establishing these rights and duties isn’t required in all situations, namely when a couple is married at the time of a… Read More »
Why You Should Consider Establishing Paternity of Your Child
Establishing paternity means that a person has been determined to be a child’s legal father. Generally, fathers who are married to the mothers of their children at the time of their child’s birth do not have to take any additional steps to establish paternity. This is not true, however, if two parents were unwed… Read More »
Establishing Paternity to Obtain Child Support
Parents who were never married are often required to go through the process of establishing paternity before a court will award child support. This can be a difficult process, so if you are seeking child support from your child’s other parent and have not yet established his paternity, you should consider retaining an experienced… Read More »
Why Your Petition to Disestablish Paternity Could be Denied
When a child’s legal father who is paying child support learns new information relating to the paternity of the child, it is not uncommon for that individual to begin the process of disestablishing paternity, which starts with the filing of a petition with the court. If the request is granted, the child’s father would… Read More »
Voluntary Declarations of Paternity
There are a number of ways for a child’s biological father to declare paternity, one of which is to complete a voluntary declaration. Completing a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity is an option often chosen by fathers who are unmarried to the mother of their child, as it provides the legal benefits and rights of… Read More »
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 »
