Paternity in Florida

Establishing Rights. Defining Responsibilities. Securing the Future.

At the Law Office of Natashia Sinckler, paternity actions are handled with precision, structure, and strategic foresight. Establishing paternity is more than a biological determination—it is the legal foundation for parental rights, timesharing, child support, and decision-making authority. When paternity is not legally established, a father has no enforceable rights, regardless of involvement.

Our role is to formalize those rights and responsibilities in a manner that is compliant, efficient, and future-focused.

What Is a Paternity Action in Florida?

In Florida, when parents are not married at the time of a child’s birth, the law does not automatically recognize the father’s legal rights. A paternity action is required to:

Establish the legal father-child relationship
Determine timesharing and parental responsibility
Set child support obligations
Address health insurance and uncovered medical expenses

Until paternity is legally established, the mother retains sole parental responsibility by default.

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FLORIDA PATERNITY

How Paternity Is Established

Paternity may be established in one of two primary ways:

Voluntary Acknowledgment

Both parents may sign a legally binding acknowledgment of paternity, typically at the hospital or shortly after birth.

Court-Ordered Paternity Action

When paternity is disputed or unresolved, a court action may be filed. This may include genetic testing and a judicial determination of paternity, followed by entry of a parenting plan and child support order.

We guide clients through both processes with clarity and efficiency.

Parenting Plans and Timesharing

Once paternity is established, the court addresses timesharing and parental responsibility using the same best interest of the child standard applied in divorce cases. Florida law favors meaningful involvement by both parents, and a detailed parenting plan is required to define:

Timesharing schedules
Decision-making authority
Transportation and communication
Parental rights and responsibilities

Our focus is creating parenting plans that are realistic, enforceable, and designed to minimize conflict.

Child Support in Paternity Cases

Establishing paternity also triggers child support obligations under Florida’s statutory guidelines. Support is calculated based on income, timesharing, health insurance, and childcare costs. We ensure calculations are accurate and supported by proper financial disclosure to avoid long-term issues.

Why Paternity Matters

A legally established paternity order provides:

Enforceable parental rights
Defined financial obligations
Stability and predictability for the child
A clear framework for co-parenting moving forward

Without it, both parents operate without legal certainty—creating unnecessary risk and conflict.