Sarasota Paternity Lawyers
A paternity case is a legal action between two people who have a child together, but were never married. A paternity action is similar to a divorce in that all issues that relate to the child are addressed by the court, including timesharing, parenting plans, and child support. Issues that generally are not addressed in paternity cases are alimony, and the equitable distribution of assets and debts.
Paternity for Mothers
Are you single and have a baby? There are legal reasons to pursue paternity action against the father of your child:
- You can pursue payment for child support once paternity is established.
- Social Security benefits may be received if your child’s other parent dies.
Paternity for Fathers
Your rights as a father may require proving that you are your child’s biological father. DNA tests can be arranged to legally establish your parentage. Then, a hearing on custody can be requested. Depending the situation, the court could award you:
- Full custody
- Joint custody
- Visitation rights
- No access
Our family law attorneys have successfully represented many clients over the years in paternity actions. If you need to establish paternity for your child, obtain an enforceable parenting plan, or establish child support, we invite you to contact our office for a confidential consultation.