Establishing the paternity of a child comes with benefits that go well beyond the child. For starters, it ensures the child has certain rights, such as having access to health insurance should the father have a policy. Furthermore, it makes it much easier for the child to have access to vital medical information.

If legal paternity is not established, the former spouse or partner cannot seek out child support on the child’s behalf, which can cause issues in regards to the parent’s finances or supporting the child’s basic needs. Additionally, if the father's name is not on a child's birth certificate, he may experience considerable difficulty getting visitation rights or even custody of the child.

There are a couple of ways a father can establish paternity in Florida. Should the parents be married and together when the child is born and being delivered, paternity is automatically established. Otherwise, both parents must voluntarily establish paternity when the child is born at the hospital.

Should paternity not be established at the hospital, parents may consider or seek other options. They may, for example, choose to marry once the child is born. Should the parents decide not to marry, a paternity test will confirm. Parents may also consult with the court to request a paternity test, or the judge may request a paternity test during a court hearing. This may happen in cases where the mother wishes to seek child support for the child, which the father may decide to dispute.

This update is provided by the firm and Miami family law lawyers of Rafool, LLC. We have a strong reputation throughout Florida and we have numerous years of experience representing clients involved in complex divorce cases as well as other family law matters. Should you have any domestic or family issue, we are here to assist you by providing educated advice and skilled, professional advocacy. Call 305-567-9400 to speak with one of our family law attorneys Miami.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.