PATERNITY

1. If I am not married and a woman is claiming I am the father of her child, what should I do?

You have several options. First, you need to be sure that you are the father. Many times a woman will claim a certain person is the father, only to find out later that she was wrong, either by mistake or on purpose. With DNA testing, paternity is easy to prove or disprove. While there is no divorce involved, all of the other issues dealing with children are the same. Please refer to the sections dealing with child custody and child support for more details. For example, once a judge determines you are the father, the issues of child custody, child support, and visitation must be dealt with. In addition, child support can run into the tens of thousands of dollars over 18 years. For example, if you are required to pay as little as $300 a month, and even assuming no increases, that equals $64,800. While that may not be a lot to pay for your own child, that's a lot to pay when you are fooled into believing you are the father.

Once you are accused of being the father, it is usually a wise idea to consult with an attorney who deals with divorce and family law related issues.

2. What if I'm been served with a Paternity lawsuit?

You have only 20 days under Florida law to respond. You should speak with an attorney at once.

3. How do I find an attorney to help me?

Just click here, to schedule an appointment with an attorney.

4. If I am a woman who is not married and pregnant or not married and has recently given birth, and the biological father refuses to pay child support, what can I do?

You can file a Paternity lawsuit against the person you believe to be the father. Usually, unless the other party admits to being the father, the Court will order a DNA test to determine if he is the father. If the test proves he is the father, then the Court will determine a variety of issues. While there is no divorce involved, all of the other issues dealing with children are the same. Please refer to the sections dealing with child custody and child support for more details.

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