Establishing Paternity in Sarasota Florida
May 29, 2019
Establishing Paternity in Sarasota is identifying the child’s legal father. Paternity gives legal rights and benefits to both parents, and the child.
Rights and Benefits the Child Will Potentially Receive
- Medical history of the family
- Child will know his/her father
- Birth Certificate lists the mother and father
- Health insurance mandated for the child
- Child support from both parents
Once Paternity is established, both parents have the right to a child support order and a court order for a time sharing plan.
Married or Not Married
- When a child is born to married parents, that child has a legal father.
- When a child is born to unmarried parents, the child does not have a legal father and paternity must be established.
How Do I Establish Paternity in Sarasota?
After Birth, At the Hospital
If the mother of the child is married, nothing has to be done. The hospital staff will complete the necessary paperwork and the husband will be declared the legal father, unless the mother does not list the father on the birth certificate. In that case, paternity must be established for the husband.
If the mother and father of the child are not married but wish to establish paternity, they may complete the Acknowledgment of Paternity form (Form DH-432). The signatures must be notarized with the hospital’s public notary.
If the mother isn’t married at the time of birth but later marries, the husband becomes the legal father.
The mother and child’s father can establish paternity until the child is 18 years old by completing the Acknowledgment of Paternity form (Form DH-432) *. This must be signed in the presence of a notary.
Paternity By Court Order
A circuit court judge can assist in establishing paternity in Sarasota if a civil action is filed. The court will hear the case and the judge will make a determination. Until paternity is established, the father is referred to as the “alleged father.”
A judge can also establish paternity during a divorce or dependency case.
By Genetic Testing
The child’s parents can both establish paternity without going to court by providing genetic samples to the Florida Department of Revenue in the Child Support Program. If the test comes back as a positive match, paternity is established and the department moves to get child support.
Establishing Paternity? Jodat Law Group can help you
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Who’s That? Jodat!
Telephone No.9413556328