The Law Office of Jeffrey P. Cario, P.A.

Call: 352-448-0546

The Law Office of Jeffrey P. Cario, P.A.

Put Our Experience To Work For You

352-448-0546

Leveraging Our Experience

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Paternity Attorneys Helping Fathers Secure Parental Rights

When Florida parents are married to each other at the time their child is born, there is no question about parental rights and paternity. Both men and women have equal parental rights and responsibilities. The same isn’t always true when children are born “out of wedlock.” Major changes in Florida’s paternity laws have made it far easier for men to establish paternity and gain parental rights, but it can nonetheless be helpful to work with an attorney if you worry about protecting your rights as a dad or getting the help you need as a mom.

In Brooksville, Hernando County and throughout the greater Tampa Bay area, the firm to contact for help is Jeffrey P. Cario, P.A. Our team of family law attorneys has nearly 60 years of combined legal experience. They bring an in-depth understanding of Florida laws to each case and client, and they have carefully followed changes in the law to better serve the needs of their clients.

A Brief Overview Of How Florida’s Paternity Laws Have Changed

Under Florida’s old paternity laws, unwed dads could establish themselves as the legal father of the child either by having their name put on the birth certificate (which required permission from the mother) or by signing an affidavit of paternity. In both cases, these actions did not confer parental rights – gaining those would require additional court actions and procedures. They did, however, obligate a man to pay child support.

The laws changed significantly in 2023. Now, as soon as a biological father establishes paternity, he is granted parental rights (and responsibilities) equal to those of the mother. This means that if the parents were never in a committed relationship or if their current relationship ends, both will be on equal footing in negotiations or disputes over things like child custody and time sharing.

Some Parents May Still Require Old Legal Procedures

Currently, the new paternity laws are not retroactive. This means that if your child was born prior to July 1, 2023, you might need to rely on older procedures to gain recognition as the legal father and to petition for parental rights. A paternity action may be necessary to settle legal questions that will clarify rights and responsibilities for a child’s sake and for the benefit of both parents.

Establishing paternity comes with numerous benefits for all involved parties, including:

  • Child support payments: A mother can pursue child support from the father when he has been legally identified.
  • A parenting plan, child custody and visitation: A father can seek a court order establishing shared parenting time once his paternity is established.
  • Eligibility for health insurance, inheritance and more: With paternity formalized on a birth certificate, the child can be covered by the father’s health insurance and enjoy other financial and legal advantages.

If you and your child’s other parent did not get paternity established at the hospital, you can still submit an affirmation signed by both of you establishing parentage up until the child reaches age 18. Then, you can pursue a corrected birth certificate. And if you are seeking to establish paternity for your child but the other parent will not cooperate, contact our skilled family law attorneys for help pursuing a civil court order based on DNA or other factors.

Confronting Complications

If determining the parentage of your child seems complicated for any reason, rest assured that you are not alone. Our attorneys at Jeffrey P. Cario, P.A., can help you determine what type of legal action you need and how to go about it most efficiently. You can consult with our attorneys regarding any family law situation, such as:

  • Surrogacy
  • An unknown or absent father
  • Frozen embryos, artificial insemination and other special circumstances
  • Parenting plans and child support
  • The genetic testing process
  • Paternity to establish grandparents’ rights

Attorneys Jeffrey P. Cario, Kimberly A. Scarano and Olivia Belmont are caring lawyers who will not waste time. They are ready to pursue whatever legal remedy you need to have resolved that has to do with your child’s paternity.

Reach Out Today To Speak To An Experienced Hernando County Paternity Lawyer

To schedule an initial consultation, call our Brooksville office at 352-448-0546 or email the law firm through this website.