One of the most important tasks that unmarried couples must do when they have a baby is to establish paternity. Paternity establishment holds numerous advantages for both parents and the child.
There are many ways to establish paternity in the state of Florida. For an easier and affordable experience, you should contact a paternity lawyer to assist you with the overall process.
Paternity can be established by declaring the father on the child’s birth certificate (if he is present during the birth of the child). Most states allow fathers to sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.
If unwed parents do not place a paternal name on the birth certificate, they have the option of preparing a paternal statement. This form can be found on most states’ court websites.
Otherwise, unmarried couples may prepare an informal document that includes basic information about both parents and the child’s birth. This informal document should be signed in the presence of a notary and filed with the nearest family court.
If the mother is unwilling to indicate the father, a man who believes that he is the father may petition with the courts. To do this, he would need to locate the state that has jurisdiction in the case. It is usually the child’s birthplace/state and/or the mother’s state of residence that has jurisdiction. Once the petition is filed, the mother will receive a court order requiring a response. If she continues to deny the father, DNA testing and other means may be taken in order to prove paternity. In most cases, it is advisable to file a petition with the court as soon as the baby is born, as a way to prevent any drastic measures taken by the mother, such as placing the child up for adoption.
There are numerous benefits associated with paternity establishment. Here is why establish paternity in Florida is so important:
Clearly, determining paternity signifies much more than paper documents. For more information on how to establish paternity, you should contact an experienced paternity attorney.
Establishing paternity is extremely important for the child and the parents involved. But it is even more important that the father who is legalized and noted on official documents is indeed the biological father.
Paternity fraud refers to the act of a mother knowingly providing hospitals with wrongful information about her child’s real father on documents. It is a scandalous activity that often results in much turmoil and chaos in families. It may also prevent the child from developing a healthy relationship with his father and/or subject another man to unnecessary caretaking and unlawful financial responsibilities.
Here’s how to prove paternity:
At the Law Offices of Theodore Enfield, P.A., our experienced paternity attorneys have over 35 years of family law litigation and advocacy experience within the state of Florida. If done improperly, establishing paternity can become a lengthy and tedious process. Further, your family (especially the child) may experience significant financial and emotional burdens. No matter what issues your family may be going through, our trustworthy paternity lawyers are prepared to assist you with establishing paternity over your child.
Contact us today for a free consultation.