Real Solutions for Resolving Paternity Challenges
Establishing paternity allows a child’s biological parents to assert their rights and ensure that each parent lives up to their responsibilities. There are many advantages to court ordered paternity for the parents and the child. In most cases, it is an effective and affordable way to preserve parental rights. Florida law assumes the parentage of a child when the parents are married. For unmarried parents, legal fatherhood needs to be established.
At The Davies Law Firm, LLC, we help spouses and unmarried parents handle the unique complexities of family law and paternity-related issues throughout Central Florida. Our legal team provides practical legal assistance, honest advice, and guidance to help mothers and fathers make responsible decisions for the future. Let us help you navigate the court system to establish paternity through genetic testing or negotiate a paternity agreement that is in your and your child’s best interests.
Establishing Paternity Affords Many Rights and Privileges for a Child, including:
- Financial support
- Legal documentation of parentage
- The right to file for an inheritance
- Health insurance benefits
- Social Security benefits
- Life insurance benefits
- Veteran’s benefits
- Access to paternal medical records
In addition, establishing paternity means the court can order custody and visitation rights for the biological father. Florida law recognizes the importance of children maintaining a relationship with both parents, except in cases where a parent’s life choices would be detrimental to the health and development of the child.
For Mothers
In addition to financial support, a mother may seek a paternity action for emotional and physical support to raise a child. Without establishing paternity, filing for and receiving such support is impossible.
Whatever the reason, it is essential to have an experienced paternity attorney on your side to protect your rights and interests. The Davies Law Firm, LLC, has assisted many mothers to help them get much-needed support for their children.
For Fathers
There is hardly anything more important than your children. Ensuring you have a say over how those children are raised is significant. By establishing paternity, you can uphold your rights as a father. By proving your fatherhood, you will have obligations as a parent.
Paternity actions are resolved through DNA testing, either done voluntarily or by court order. Once this test is completed, the results may be used to request a child support order, prevent adoption, or take other family law actions.
Paternity Disputes
There are many reasons a mother may falsely accuse a man of being the father of her child. Perhaps she is seeking financial support or wants to get revenge for some perceived wrong. Often, misattributed paternity occurs when a husband is not the child’s biological father. Or when an unmarried mother of a child wrongly identifies the father, and he voluntarily signs an Acknowledgement of Paternity form.
Paternity fraud victimizes the biological father, the non-biological father, and the child. When a child learns that their “father” is not biologically related to them, the shocking truth can leave them feeling betrayed, confused, and angry. A man may be paying child support for years and be emotionally attached to a child, only to learn they do not share DNA. In these cases, the court may decide if the child support payments should continue based on the child’s best interests.
Seek Legal Counsel from a Compassionate Family Law Attorney
Attorney Kathleen Davies has more than thirty-five years of experience as a practicing lawyer. She understands the sensitive nature of paternity cases and their effect on a family’s future. Attorney Davies cares deeply about her clients and remains accessible during and after business hours whenever questions or concerns arise. She has helped countless men and women establish parental roles, putting to rest their paternity issues. And always, the best interest of the child is her primary consideration.
If you want to establish or dispute a paternity action, contact The Davies Law Firm, LLC, at 855-688-4713 to schedule a Free Initial Consultation. Our office is located in Cocoa, Florida, and we represent clients in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.