Protecting Your Parental Rights Through Legal Paternity
Establishing legal paternity creates the foundation for meaningful parent-child relationships and provides essential protections for everyone involved. Whether you’re a father seeking to confirm your legal rights or a mother wanting to secure support for your child, our team understands the emotional and legal complexities you face.
At Sheppard, White, Kachergus, & DeMaggio, P.A. Attorneys & Counselors at Law, our paternity lawyers have decades of experience guiding clients. Whether it be for general family law concerns or through paternity matters, we provide sensitive and compassionate counsel. Our Jacksonville family law team will work tirelessly to protect your interests and your child’s future.
Why Establishing Paternity Matters
Taking legal steps to confirm paternity provides security for both parents and children. Legal paternity confirmation offers important benefits:
- Child support: Ensures financial responsibility is properly assigned
- Medical history: Gives children access to complete family medical information
- Inheritance rights: Protects your child’s future financial interests
- Emotional connection: Creates a legal foundation for meaningful relationships
When paternity remains unestablished, both parents and children may face uncertainty about rights and responsibilities that impact their lives for years to come.
How Our Paternity Lawyers Help
We deliver personalized legal representation tailored to your specific paternity concerns. Our Jacksonville paternity lawyer team provides comprehensive support through:
- Filing paternity petitions with Florida courts
- Arranging genetic testing to establish biological relationships
- Negotiating child custody arrangements that serve your child’s best interests
- Developing fair child support agreements
- Modifying existing orders when circumstances change
We understand how paternity cases connect with other family law matters, including divorce proceedings. Our experienced attorneys handle these intersections with careful attention to your unique situation.
Can A Mother Stop A Father From Seeing A Child In Florida?
Without established legal paternity, a mother may limit access to a child. However, once paternity is legally confirmed, fathers gain enforceable visitation rights. Courts generally favor arrangements allowing children to have relationships with both parents unless safety concerns exist.
How Can I Legally Establish Paternity In Florida?
Understanding your legal options helps you make informed decisions about establishing paternity. Florida offers several paths to establish legal paternity:
- Voluntary acknowledgment: Both parents sign a form at birth or later
- Administrative process: Through the Florida Department of Revenue
- Court petition: Filed by either parent, the child or the child’s representative
- Genetic testing: Scientific verification of biological relationship
Our Jacksonville paternity attorneys guide you through the most appropriate option for your situation.
Safeguard Your Parental Rights Today
Establishing paternity is best done with the help of a professional. At Sheppard, White, Kachergus, & DeMaggio, P.A., we provide the legal guidance you need during this critical time.
Book a confidential consultation with our experienced paternity lawyer by calling 904-701-0589 during business hours or send us an email through our contact form. Our after-hours number is 904-233-2443.