Paternity & Fathers’ Rights

Fathers’ rights deserve as much protection as mothers’ rights. Unfortunately, many men are unaware of their rights and how to enforce them. We encourage you to reach out to a Florida fathers’ rights and paternity action lawyer from Luhrsen Goldberg so that you can have a more meaningful role in your child’s life.

Courts may have typically sided with mothers in the past, assuming that a child would have a better life under their care. However, that is not the case today. Fathers have rights and are recognized as necessary in a child’s life. A fathers’ rights attorney is a good resource for those looking to spend more time with their children.

Fathers may be under the false assumption that they have fewer rights than the mother of a child. These men may also assume that because they are not married to the mother of their child, they are not entitled to the same time or responsibilities that she is. These assumptions are simply not accurate.

Since Florida law does not give preference to mothers, fathers have a strong chance of winning child custody battles. Fathers’ rights attorneys understand that a court places the highest priority on whatever is in a child’s best interest and that this applies to custody and visitation. With the help of a fathers’ rights lawyer, you can better understand your options.

According to Florida’s paternity laws, when a woman gives birth to a child, there is an assumption that the child’s father is the husband. However, paternity lawyers understand that fathers who are not married to their child’s mother have rights too.

Unfortunately, many fathers will not find out they are a child’s father until after it is born. Florida law recognizes this reality and allows fathers to file a paternity action until the child’s eighteenth birthday. If you are interested in filing a petition for paternity action, keep in mind that you must be a resident of Florida for at least six months.

Florida men who discover they are the father of a child may feel their options are limited, especially if they have not already been granted time with their child. It is best to work with a paternity lawyer to understand how to resolve this situation so you can spend as much time with your child as Florida law allows.

In Florida, it is essential to fight for your rights. You cannot assume anything, especially if you are an unwed parent looking to have a more active role in your child’s life. Fathers’ rights lawyers can educate you on the best course of action and pitfalls to avoid.

Florida law requires that paternity be established for paternal rights to be granted. Being on a child’s birth certificate is not proof. Under Florida law, unmarried fathers must establish paternity to enforce parental rights. As any skilled paternity attorney will tell you, having your name on the child’s birth certificate is not enough. Once paternity is established, the next step is securing a parenting plan. This plan is a roadmap for how the parents will raise their children and share responsibilities.

A parenting plan includes information about a father’s visitation rights and custody (also known as timesharing), the amount of child support payments, and decisions related to healthcare. A solid plan should address education, religion, and any intention for relocation. With this plan in place, paternity attorneys can protect a father’s custody rights, even after a divorce.

As previously noted, under Florida law, fathers have the right to share time with their children and take part in important life decisions. These decisions include those related to education, religion, and healthcare, just to name a few. Unless it can be proven that it is not in the child’s best interest for a father to contribute to this decision-making, his rights must be protected.

The opportunity for shared parental responsibility allows fathers to play an essential role in their children’s lives. Florida laws have leveled the playing field, so one parent is not given preferential treatment over the other. When creating a parental plan, both parents’ schedules are considered.

Spending more time with children following a divorce or separation requires taking the appropriate legal steps. A parental timesharing plan ensures that both parents have an active role in their children’s lives, and a Florida fathers’ rights and paternity action attorney can help fathers put a plan in place.

You must first understand what rights you have as a father before you can act on those rights. A paternity attorney can provide this guidance, highlighting the steps you need to take to get more time with your child, including how to play an influential role in their life.

Florida fathers looking to understand more about their rights and how to enforce them, reach out to Luhrsen Goldberg for a Florida fathers’ rights and paternity action lawyer. Our dedicated team of attorneys is passionate about securing justice for our clients. We welcome the opportunity to provide you with Law Powered by Women® legal assistance. Contact us today.

Founded in 2016 by Julie S. Luhrsen, Esq. and Christina A. Goldberg, Esq., Luhrsen Goldberg is a woman-owned and led boutique law practice. We are committed to fighting hard for our clients and putting our life experiences, perspectives, and skills to work for you.

Those looking for a fathers’ rights and paternity action lawyer in Florida turn to Luhrsen Goldberg because they know we have extensive experience in numerous areas of family law. When you seek a fathers’ rights and paternity action attorney in Florida, our team of committed professionals welcomes the opportunity to provide you with Law Powered by Women® legal assistance.