Because of the biology of conception and birth, women who birth children are easily recognized as the parent of a child born to them. As a consequence, women obtain legal rights to parent their children immediately upon birth. Fathers do not necessarily enjoy that same luxury; rather, unless the child was born during the Father's marriage to the mother, the Father has no rights at all. As shocking as it may be, until the Father's paternity of the child is "established" the Father has no legal right to parent the child and no legal obligation to support the child.
Paternal rights refer to the Father's right to see the child, care for the child, make decisions about what happens to and for the child, pay for the child's needs, and be involved in the child's life. If a child is born during the marriage of the father and mother, it is presumed the husband is the father of the child born to the wife. If another person is, in fact, the biological father, that person has no parental rights to the child. If the father and mother are unmarried when the child is born, the father has no parental rights to the child. In order for a father to acquire the right to parent, he must take action to have his paternity established. If a husband is the legal father of a child he loves and wants to parent but a biological father steps in and wants to establish his right to the child, the waters can get very muddy and emotionally charged.
Our role as your attorney is to make sure that your rights are established and protected under Florida law.
At Fournier Law, we understand the emotional stress and pain that is involved in all types of Paternity cases. We understand that you may feel that your current situation is hopeless. We are here to help. We can help determine your best course of action.
Paternity cases can be complex, causing frustration for the mother, father, husband, wife, or any combination of those labels. If either party is contesting a claim, then both parties may have to endure a difficult and lengthy legal process. We can help you by:
Whatever your need, our law firm will fight to help you win your case. Fournier Law has the experience and legal knowledge necessary to help you navigate the legal process.
If you are considering filing a Paternity action, having a lawyer on your side is vital. To get started, contact Fournier Law today. We offer a wide range of legal services for families in Tallahassee, Big Bend, and across Florida.
This website is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
