Melbourne Paternity Attorneys You Can Trust

Until paternity is established through the courts, an unmarried father has no enforceable parental rights. The mother can establish child support obligations without the court addressing time sharing, custody or father’s rights. Although the mother has all legal rights to the child until paternity is established by the courts, the mother’s refusal to allow the father access to the child can be used against the mother in a custody case.

If you’re an unmarried father who wants to be a part of your child’s life  or a mother who is trying to seek support from a child’s father, working with a paternity attorney can help make a difference. The lawyers at Platt Cole Russell & Simpson PLLC have years of experience in handling paternity cases and can guide you through this challenging process.

The Importance Of Establishing Paternity

The paternity lawyers at Platt Cole Russell & Simpson PLLC represent mothers and fathers who want to establish time sharing, parenting plans and child custody once they break up. We also defend against paternity actions and ensure DNA testing is conducted to ascertain whether or not the child is theirs.

When disagreements on paternity occur, they can be resolved through mediation or negotiation.

At Platt Cole Russell & Simpson PLLC, we work with all sides in resolving paternity disputes:

• Mothers withholding the child
• Mothers seeking support from reluctant fathers
• Men who dispute that they are the father and insist on proof
• Fathers seeking time sharing/visitation with the child

When mediation or negotiation is unable to resolve the problem, we have no reluctance to take the matter to trial.

Florida’s New Paternity Laws

in 2023, House Bill 775 went into law to provide unmarried fathers an easier pathway to establish paternity. The new law gives unwed fathers equal rights and responsibilities over their child, including a 50/50 split when it comes to making decisions regarding the child’s healthcare, education and other major issues.

The new law lets courts simultaneously determine parental responsibility, create parenting plans and time sharing schedules and calculate child support payments all at once when establishing paternity. This helps fathers avoid the previous complex system in seeking parental rights and streamlines the process instead for both the father and mother.

We can help represent new or prospective fathers during this process. The new laws may be confusing, but we’re here to ensure your rights are protected as you navigate the steps toward securing paternity and custody.