In Jacksonville, there are a few ways to figure out who a child’s father is. If the dad is not married to the mom when the baby is born, and he does not sign a paper called an “acknowledgment of paternity” right after the birth, he needs to ask the court to decide who the...

Paternity Actions A paternity action refers to a legal process that helps determine the biological father of a child. Paternity actions can be initiated by either the mother or the potential father, and they involve various legal procedures and tests to determine the biological relationship. Often used in cases of disputed paternity, these actions are...

Establishing legal fatherhood is essential for several reasons. One significant reason is the father’s financial responsibility. Once paternity is legally established, the biological father can be required to provide child support to the custodial parent, which helps meet the child’s financial needs. This support ensures that the child receives adequate care and their needs are...

Determining paternity during pregnancy carries legal, social, and medical benefits. Establishing paternity allows for legal rights and responsibilities to be determined accurately. This ensures the father’s involvement in important decisions regarding the child’s welfare, including custody, visitation, and allows for financial support for the child.   Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing Non-invasive prenatal paternity testing is...

Misconceptions About Paternity Actions Establishing paternity is necessary for both legal and emotional reasons. It grants rights and responsibilities to the biological father and benefits the child, mother, and extended family. Legal benefits include inheritance rights, social security benefits, and medical insurance coverage. It also allows the father to have custody, visitation rights, and be...

Paternity action and paternity testing are not the same thing, although often confused. We will provide clarification on the differences between the two.   Differences Between Paternity Action and Paternity Testing Paternity action refers to the legal process through which a person seeks to establish or challenge paternity. It usually includes court proceedings where the...