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Paternity

MIAMI PATERNITY LAWYER FIGHTS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS

Assisting clients throughout Florida

Fathers can be denied rights to their children because they are not legally recognized. For children born outside of marriage, paternity must be established in one of several ways before an individual can be considered the father of a child and have parental rights. An adjudication of paternity along with support and parenting orders is important for fathers to gain rights to their child. Otherwise the mother, under the Florida law of guardianship, is the natural guardian of the child and is entitled to primary residential care and custody of the child unless the court enters required orders. The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. has the experience to guide you through the process of establishing or challenging paternity.

How do I establish paternity in Florida?

Paternity directly affects a man’s rights and responsibilities to a child, including:

  • Child custody
  • Child support
  • Temporary relief
  • Post judgement litigation and enforcement
  • Parenting plans
  • Time-sharing

Legal paternity has to be established for a child born to an unwed mother. The father can sign a legal document acknowledging paternity either in the hospital when the child is born or at a later date. If the mother is married when the child is born, then her husband is presumed to be the legal father of the child. Mothers and fathers can file actions in Florida to establish legal paternity, child support, and a parenting plan.

What is the difference between legal and biological paternity?

The legal father is the person recognized by the court. He enjoys all the legal rights and responsibilities of a father. When a child is born to a married couple, the husband is presumed to be the father, even if the mother was having an affair. In other words, if a woman is married, it does not matter whether her husband is the biological father. He is presumed by law to be the legal father. If the husband later decides to challenge paternity or another man wants to establish paternity of the child, the issue must be decided by a judge. Paternity issues often arise during divorce or dissolution of marriage, and it is important to have an experienced Miami divorce attorney protecting your interests.

What if I do not believe I am the father?

If a mother seeks child support from you and you believe you are not the father of the child in question, you can file a paternity action to contest the child support request. All the parties must submit to a DNA test, and the court determines paternity based on the test results. We provide high-quality representation in paternity actions and any subsequent child custody and child support actions.

Contact a Miami-based paternity attorney today

If you believe that you are the father of a child and seek legal rights, or you believe that you are not the father and wish to contest child support orders, we guide you through the process with knowledge gained from many years of experience. We also help mothers ensure that their children are protected and receive the support they deserve by establishing paternity. We are available by appointment. Contact The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. today at 305-670-8656 or online to schedule a consultation. Se habla español.

Lawrence  S.  Katz Attorney Photo
Lawrence S. Katz
Founder

For many years, Lawrence S. Katz has helped clients in Florida, throughout the United States and abroad. He has earned an excellent worldwide reputation for providing knowledgeable, quality representation in family law matters.

Client Reviews
  • "Attorney Katz has a keen sense for understanding the overall situation and immediately formulating an action plan. He is direct, succinct and effective. I highly recommend Attorney Katz for his experience, integrity and results!" - Vivian

  • "Mr. Katz is the best divorce lawyer in the Miami area. Very knowledgeable and experienced. We had a difficult case and he delivered impressive result. His assistant Fanny it is a great asset to that office as well." - Georgette

  • "My case was a complex one and Mr. Katz provided me with a course of action that led to a favorable outcome. He is clearly knowledgeable and experienced but he is also very prompt. He is always available to answer questions via email, Skype or phone. As an overseas client this was very important to me. I would definitely recommend Mr. Katz especially for international divorce and custody cases." - Anonymous

  • "I am extremely grateful to have had Larry represent me. In International Family Law I would say he has few, if any, equals." - Anonymous

  • "This divorce lawyer is excellent, charismatic, professional, and cares about the customer. I gave a case to him that it was impossible to solve, and he did solved the problem like it was very simple. He was always in touch and answering all my questions, either by phone or by email." - Manjit

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