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Paternity
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We Can Help You Establish Paternity And Your Parental Rights

Paternity issues can arise when parents were never together, or were together but never married. A father must have paternity established in order to have legal rights such as custody or visitation. Legal paternity is also needed to take part in decision making, cover a child on a health insurance plan or pay child support. If you need help establishing paternity, a skilled lawyer can provide much-needed advice and representation.

At The Murphy Law Group, we help fathers and mothers with their paternity issues. We work with mothers to establish and enforce paternity and defend their right to receive child support. We advocate for fathers’ rights to legal paternity, custody, time sharing and decision making. If necessary, we also can explain the rights and responsibilities of both parents and refer them to resources in the community.

Establishing Paternity In Florida

There are four ways in which paternity can be established in Florida:

  • Married at the time of birth — The husband is always presumed to be the father of the child born to the mother when marriage is involved.
  • Married after the child is born — Called legitimation, paternity is established by legally changing a birth record or signing an Acknowledgement of Paternity after marriage.
  • Unmarried parent, voluntary acknowledgement — Signing an Acknowledgement of Paternity form is another way of establishing paternity in Florida.
  • Court ordered genetic testing — If parents do not agree, a genetic test can be ordered by a judge. A genetic test, also known as a DNA test, is a reliable and scientific way to determine if someone is or is not the father of a child.

Attorney Stephanie Murphy is fully prepared to help you establish or dispute a paternity claim and deal with any resulting child support, custody and time sharing issues. Using a team approach, we also are able to coach you through any problems with additional parental responsibilities or struggles with working together to raise a child.

Need Our Assistance? Call Us Today.

Family means everything to the family-oriented legal team at The Murphy Law Group. Every decision we make concerning a family law or paternity issue always keeps in mind the best interests of the children. You can rest assured knowing we will do the same for you and your family.

If you have questions concerning a paternity issue or would like us to review your case, contact our office in Sarasota to schedule a free initial consultation. Call 941-584-9570 or send us an email if it’s more convenient. We accept all major credit cards.