Paternity Lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida

Whether you seek to establish paternity for child support, custody, or visitation rights, a skilled paternity lawyer in Jacksonville can help clarify your rights and responsibilities.

Personalized and Effective Paternity Representation in Jacksonville

Our paternity lawyers in Jacksonville dedicate themselves to providing personalized and effective representation to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family. Establishing paternity is a crucial step for parents who wish to be involved in their child's life or be able to rely on child support by filling out the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form. It can also have significant implications for the child's future, including inheritance rights, access to family medical history, and eligibility for benefits such as social security and health insurance. In Jacksonville, Florida, the process of establishing paternity can be initiated by both parents or through a court order if there is a dispute. Our paternity lawyers are adept at handling these sensitive matters with utmost respect for all parties.

What Happens After Establishing Paternity?

Paternity and Child Custody

Paternity and child custody are interconnected areas of family law. After establishing paternity, fathers may seek custody and visitation rights to participate in their child's upbringing. In Florida, the courts assess several factors when determining child custody, including the child's best interests.

Child Custody Parenting Plans

Child custody parenting plans are essential tools for managing the responsibilities and details of parenting after a separation or divorce. A parenting plan aims to ensure the child maintains a healthy and meaningful relationship with both parents while providing stability and continuity in their lives.

Child Custody Physical

Physical custody pertains to where the child lives and which parent is responsible for the child's day-to-day care. The court can award this type of custody as sole or joint physical custody.

Child Custody Sole

A legal arrangement known as sole child custody grants physical and legal custody to one parent. The child resides with that parent, who has the exclusive authority to make significant decisions regarding the child's welfare. This setup ensures that all critical aspects of the child's life, including education, healthcare, and general well-being, are managed by one parent.

Joint Child Custody

Joint child custody is an arrangement where both parents share equal responsibility and authority over their child's upbringing, encompassing both physical and legal aspects. Joint physical custody ensures that the child spends a substantial and meaningful amount of time with both parents, fostering strong relationships with each. Joint legal custody requires parents to make significant decisions concerning the child's education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and overall welfare.

Child Custody Time-Sharing

Child custody time-sharing refers to the arrangement in which both parents allocate their time to the child in a manner that best serves the child's needs and promotes a healthy and stable environment. Time-sharing schedules can vary, ranging from equal split arrangements to more traditional schedules where one parent has the child during the week while the other has weekends.

How a Paternity Lawyer in Jacksonville Can Help

A knowledgeable paternity attorney in Jacksonville can guide you through these procedures, ensuring you file all necessary documentation and meet all legal requirements. A paternity attorney in Jacksonville can help you understand whether establishing parentage suits your situation. This process involves both parents signing a "Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity" form, a binding document confirming the father's paternity. In cases with disputed paternity, a lawyer can assist in filing a lawsuit. Your lawyer submits a petition to the court to establish paternity, which may include requesting a DNA test.

Beyond establishing legal fatherhood, a lawyer can also help link paternity to other essential matters, such as child support, custody, and visitation rights. By proving paternity, the father gains the legal standing to seek custody or visitation and can be held responsible for providing financial support. Our legal team at FWLG is adept at handling paternity cases with compassion and precision. We work hard to protect your rights and foster a stable and nurturing environment for your child. Contact us today to discuss how we can assist you in establishing paternity and securing the benefits it offers for you and your child.

Florida Women’s Law Group

If you seek legal advice about paternity, contact the Florida Women’s Law Group as soon as possible to schedule a consultation with one of our paternity attorneys in Jacksonville, Florida. You can also reach out to us online using our convenient message form.