Single Parent? Four Practical Reasons To Establish Paternity In Fort Lauderdale
As a parent, you want to give your child every advantage they can get, but sometimes the choices you face are uncomfortable and challenging to make. This is particularly true for single parents who may be contemplating paternity proceedings in Fort Lauderdale.
Regardless of your personal feelings for the father or the way your relationship may have ended, the benefits of establishing paternity generally outweigh the drawbacks. Our Fort Lauderdale family attorney explains how paternity is established and gives four practical reasons for pursuing it.
How Do You Establish Paternity In Fort Lauderdale?
Paternity establishes the legal relationship between a child and their birth father. According to the Florida Department of Revenue outlines three ways to establish paternity in Fort Lauderdale:
- By being married to the mother when the child is born;
- By a letter of acknowledgment signed by both parents;
- Via a court order, which a Broward County Family Court judge can issue based on genetic testing results.
If you are an unmarried parent but the father refuses to acknowledge their relationship or their legal responsibility to their child, contact our Fort Lauderdale paternity lawyer. We can discuss the details surrounding your situation and advise you on whether pursuing paternity proceedings is your best option.
Four Reasons To Pursue Fort Lauderdale Paternity Proceedings
In some situations, such as when the father is guilty of domestic abuse or criminal activity, you may want to put as much distance between them and your child as possible. However, establishing paternity is a good idea in general, as it provides your child with important benefits:
- Children benefit by knowing they have a father: Even if you do not pursue a relationship, the American Association of Child Psychotherapists claims that knowing they have a father and having his name on their birth certificate generally benefits children and helps in forming an identity.
- Paternity provides access to vital information. Having the father’s name listed on your child’s birth certificate can help in obtaining information about genealogy, medical conditions, and other important information.
- Paternity entitles your child to certain benefits. Regardless of their relationship, paternity can help children access health care, Social Security, and Veterans benefits. It also legally entitles them to inherit from the father’s estate.
- Establishing paternity is the first step in getting a Fort Lauderdale child support order. Even if your income covers all of your own and your child’s needs, you should still pursue a child support order in Fort Lauderdale. This is money your child is legally entitled to and can help pay for schooling or other costs over the years.
Schedule A Consultation Today With Our Fort Lauderdale Family Attorney To Discuss Your Options
If you are a single parent and unsure of whether to file paternity proceedings, contact Fort Lauderdale family attorney Sandra Bonfiglio. We provide caring support and can review the options available to determine what is in your own and your child’s best interests. To get the trusted legal guidance you need, schedule a consultation today.
Source:
floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Pages/paternity.aspx
childpsychotherapy.org.uk/resources-families/understanding-childhood/fathers-understanding-vital-role-fathers-father-figures
