Orlando Paternity Lawyers

Fighting for Fathers' Rights in Orlando, Florida Paternity Cases

If you are an unmarried mother or father needing to establish or refute paternity, you will need to go through a legal process to do so. For mothers, paternity can be an important issue to obtain child support. Unmarried fathers may wish to establish paternity to be able to play a major part in the child’s life through parental responsibility and timesharing. Other unmarried fathers who believe the child is not theirs may need to fight child support by refuting paternity. No matter what side of the issue you are on, The Law Office of Paulette Hamilton, P.A. can help.

To learn more about how we work to protect fathers' rights in Orlando, Florida, call us at (407) 624-5344 or contact us online today.

Florida Paternity Cases

When a child is born to an unmarried mother, paternity may be established either voluntarily by the alleged father or through the courts. At the time of the birth, a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form may be signed by both parents that acknowledges the father’s legitimacy. If this is not done, either the mother or father can proceed with legal action. A paternity court action can also be started by the Florida Department of Child Support Services when a mother seeks this agency’s help in obtaining child support. However, this agency can only order child support payments; any other legal rights a father may seek must be done through the courts.

Paternity cases are started in the circuit court where either the mother or father lives. Paternity is established through genetic testing. The father may seek custody and visitation rights from the court.

Once paternity has been established, the court may issue:

• Child support orders
• Parenting time for the father, also known as timesharing
• Parental responsibility orders, in which the father is given a legal right to make decisions about the child’s health care, education, religious upbringing, and other important matters regarding the child’s welfare
• An order for a father to pay court costs and attorney fees, if applicable

Establishing paternity for a child may have many benefits, such as access to health insurance through the father’s employment, access to the father’s medical history, access to the father’s government benefits, and inheritance rights.

Our Orlando Fathers' Rights Lawyers Are Here for You

Our firm has experience protecting both mothers’ and fathers’ rights in Orlando, Florida when it comes to paternity matters. We offer caring, honest, and reputable legal assistance for all aspects of this issue.

Don't fight for your rights as a father on your own. Get the legal assistance you need by contacting us at (407) 624-5344 today.