What Are The Benefits of Establishing Paternity in Florida?

When a married woman gives birth to a new baby, the law assumes that her husband is the biological father. When an unmarried couple has a child together, the same legal assumption is not made. In these instances, fathers must legally establish paternity.

Paternity can be established voluntarily between the mother and father or through genetic testing, either inside or outside of court. Below one of our Tampa paternity attorneys discuss some primary benefits to establishing paternity for the father and the child.

To Establish Child’s Legal Rights 

Legally establishing paternity establishes the child’s right to child support, either from the mother or the father. Many people consider child support to be a burden, but it can secure the child’s financial future, as it can be used on the child’s health, education, and overall well-being. Neither parent can waive child support, as it is the child’s right and not the right of either parent.

Legally establishing paternity also provides the child with the right to Social Security benefits and inheritance rights. After a parent passes away, their children may have automatic rights to their property and financial resources. Social security benefits are also connected to established legal paternity. If a biological father is retired, disabled, or has passed away, the child may have rights to benefits based on their father’s earnings.

To Establish Father’s Child Custody/Timesharing & Decision Making Rights 

Establishing paternity with the court also provides biological fathers with the right to petition for child custody, also known as timesharing/visitation. Fathers can pursue physical custody, which is where the child lives, as well as parental responsibility, which provides either or both parents with the ability to make important decisions for the child.

Even if a father is not awarded child custody, he will obtain visitation rights in most cases. When a father has visitation rights they can spend time with the child, attend extracurricular activities, such as sporting events, and participate in daily activities, such as taking them to and from school. Mothers do not have the right to interfere with visitation. However, if paternity is not legally established and there is no court ordered timesharing, the child can be kept from the father.

Strengthening the Father-Child Relationship 

Spending time with a child and contributing to their financial security have another very big benefit. That is the ability to build and maintain a strong relationship between the child and their biological father.

Establishing paternity shows that the father is committed to playing an active role in his child’s life, which can help the child feel valued and loved. For fathers, it can be reassuring to know that he has a say in how his child is raised and he can impart upon the child his own values and point of view.

And importantly that the father has legal recourse if he is prevented from following the court ordered custody and visitation schedule and his role in parental responsibility, i.e., decision making.

Contact Our Top Notch Tampa Paternity Attorneys 

When establishing paternity it is important to work with a skilled and experienced Tampa paternity lawyer to be sure you have covered all of the bases. At All Family Law Group, P.A., our attorneys will take you through the process and help you establish your rights for the benefit of you and your child.

Call us now at 813-672-1900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more. Se habla Español.

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See also Florida Department of Revenue

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0742/0742.html