Miami Paternity Lawyers

Experienced Paternity Lawyers Helping Fathers Across Miami, Florida

While the law naturally establishes the rights of the mother, knowing for certain the legal identity of the father when the mother is not married can be difficult. Courts can establish paternity of a woman's husband as the presumed father, but establishing paternity outside of marriage could require additional steps.

If you wish to establish paternity in or around Miami, FL, turn to the experienced paternity law team at Miami Family Law Group, PLLC. We have over 30 years of combined experience in family law. We can help establish paternity and ensure that children can enjoy involvement and support from their fathers so they may benefit from both parents being in their lives.

Why Prove Paternity?

A putative (alleged or claimed) father may want to prove he is the biological father of a child for several reasons, including:

• He may have benefits he could provide for the child, such as health insurance or government benefits.
• He may wish to leave an inheritance for his child when he passes away.
• He may want to pursue a court order for time-sharing, physical custody, or legal custody of his child.
• He may want to be sure he is the biological father of the child before paying child support.

How to Establish Paternity in Florida

The state will presume that the husband is the biological father when a married woman gives birth to a child. However, if the father is not married to the mother, there are two options:

• If you and your partner are in a relationship, you can both sign an agreement to establish the legal paternity of the father.
• If both the biological mother and the putative father are not in a relationship, and either party wants to establish paternity, either can file an action to have the court name the putative father as the legal father of the child.

The statute of limitations to file for paternity of a child in Florida is until the child turns 22 years old.

How to Disprove Paternity in Florida With Paternity Lawyers

If a child's mother names you as the alleged father to claim child support, you may wish to disprove paternity. Contact our office at Miami Family Law Group, PLLC to schedule a strategy session and speak with a Miami paternity lawyer about your options for disproving paternity.

If you consent to a DNA test, then you can establish for sure whether or not you are the father. If you do not wish to consent to a DNA test, you may have other options to disprove paternity, including travel records, phone and text logs, and witness testimony. A Miami paternity attorney with our firm can help you dispute a mother's claims for child support.

Child Support and Paternity in Florida

One key reason to establish paternity of a child is to secure child support if the mother does not want to maintain a relationship or live in the same home. The state must recognize legal paternity before the mother can request child support.

If a man marries the mother within 300 days of the child's birth, the state will presume paternity. The state will also presume that this man contributes to the household and child-raising expenses if he lives together with the mother and his presumptive child.

If paternity is established, and the father does not marry or live with the mother, the mother could pursue child support. Contact our paternity lawyers to schedule a strategy session to discuss options for your paternity or child support case.

The Difference Between a Legal Father and a Biological Father in Florida

The biological father and legal father are not always the same person. The biological father is the individual who contributed the sperm to conceive the child. The legal father is either the presumptive father by marriage or the established father by adoption or written agreement.

Some instances when the two could be different may involve fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), pregnancy during a separation or divorce, or infidelity. If any of these may be factors in your case, you may wish to discuss the implications with a Miami paternity lawyer. We welcome your call.

Contact Our Miami Paternity Lawyers

If you need to address issues related to paternity, Miami Family Law Group, PLLC can provide you with dedicated legal help. To learn how we can help you establish or disprove paternity, contact us at 305-520-7874 and schedule a consultation.