Establishing Paternity for Your Child

Has paternity been established for your child? Paternity has been established if:
The mother and the father were married when the child was born,
The mother and father signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity, or
A legal order or paternity judgment identifies the man as the child’s father
Paternity has been established if the mother and the father signed the birth certificate in the hospital
If paternity has not been established, Attorney Michael Fender can help you.
Why is paternity important?
A child with a legal father is more likely to:

Have a stronger sense of family
Develop a strong bond with the father
Do well in school
Have better health care
Have a more complete family medical history
Receive child support
Have inheritance rights
Have rights to social security, veterans and other benefits

Parents benefit from having paternity established too. Once paternity is established, a parent may
Get an order for child support
Have regular contact with the child
Have a say in legal and other important decisions about the child including educational, religious, and healthcare

What if the mother not sure who the father is or the father is not certain he is the father?

A genetic test will tell you who the father of the child is.

Is a genetic test required in all paternity cases?

No. If the mother and father are in agreement as to paternity, then a genetic test is not necessary or required.

Can an alleged father challenge paternity if an order has previously been entered?

As of 2006 with the enactment of section 742.18, Florida Statute, a father can challenge previously adjudged paternity in certain limited circumstances and disestablish paternity.

If you are a mother or father in need of legal representation with regard to a child born out of wedlock, please contact Attorney Michael Fender to schedule an appointment to review your rights and options.

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Attorney Michael Fender has been representing spouses for 17+ years when their marriages come to an end. Mr. Fender represents Husbands or Wives in the Orlando, Florida area including Maitland, Winter Park, Lake Mary, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Casselberry, Oviedo, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, Deland, and Clermont. Please feel free to contact his office to schedule an appointment to discuss your rights and options with regard to custody, time sharing, parenting plans, equitable distribution of marital assets and debts, the marital home, alimony, child support, division of pensions, 401K’s, IRA’s and other retirement accounts. Contact his office at 407-629-1886 or visit Attorney Fender’s website.