Jacksonville Paternity Lawyer

Five Ways to Establish Paternity in Florida

Unmarried fathers who want to preserve their right to notice in any future adoption proceedings should also register with the Florida Department of Health putative father registry. A paternity attorney in Jacksonville can help you determine which path applies to your situation.

Accuracy of DNA Paternity Tests

Paternity testing determines whether a particular man is the biological father of a particular child. The test involves collecting a DNA sample, typically via cheek swab, from the child, the mother, and the alleged father.

By analyzing the DNA from the child and the potential father, a paternity test can confirm or disprove biological fatherhood. DNA testing is the most accurate method available for this purpose. It can show that a man is likely to be a child’s father with 99.9% accuracy, or exclude him entirely with 100% accuracy.

The Benefits of Establishing Paternity

For the mother, established paternity provides the legal basis to seek a child support order from the Florida courts. For the father, it confers standing to pursue time-sharing, visitation, and a voice in decisions about the child’s education, medical care, and residence. A DNA result alone doesn’t grant a father access to the child. A parenting plan or court order is required for that.

For the child, the benefits extend further: access to the father’s health insurance, Social Security eligibility, inheritance rights, government or veterans benefits, and the child’s complete family medical history. These details can shape a child’s opportunities and well-being for years.

Once paternity is established, our firm can assist with matters including visitation rights, child support, child custody agreements, birth certificate changes, and name changes. Senior Attorney Tawny Rountree brings more than ten years of experience that includes contract work handling child support collections for the State of Georgia, the Department of Revenue, and Child Support Enforcement. Senior Attorney Amanda Meyer is an Associate of the Florida Family Law American Inn of Court. That background supports informed, practical counsel for families navigating paternity-driven support and custody matters.

What If the Father Refuses to Participate in Paternity Testing?

If a father refuses to participate in paternity testing in Florida, the legal process can still proceed. The court has the authority to issue an order compelling the alleged father to undergo genetic testing. If the father continues to refuse despite the court order, he may face various consequences. These can include the court ruling him the legal father by default based on other available evidence or testimony, such as the mother’s testimony or circumstantial evidence.

Additionally, persistent refusal to comply with a court order can lead to legal penalties, such as being held in contempt of court. In such cases, the court may impose fines, revoke certain privileges, or even order jail time until the father complies with the testing order.

What If the Mother Is Married to Someone Other than the Biological Father?

If the mother is married to someone other than the biological father at the time of the child’s birth, Florida law presumes that the husband is the legal father of the child. However, this presumption can be rebutted through legal proceedings. The biological father can petition the court for paternity testing to establish his rights and responsibilities regarding the child, including custody, visitation, and child support.

Call Now for Your Free Case Review

Owenby Law, P.A. has helped mothers and fathers throughout Jacksonville and Northeast Florida establish paternity. We’ve handled thousands of cases, and our team-based approach means your matter benefits from the combined perspectives of five senior attorneys rather than a single practitioner. No matter how complicated your case may seem, we can help, and flexible payment plans mean quality representation is within reach.