Paternity

The term paternity refers to the relationship between a child and his or her parent. A parent or child may bring a paternity action. Establishing paternity differs depending on whether the parents of a child are married at the time the child is born.

If a child is born out of wedlock, paternity may be established in a number of ways including, but not limited to, written acknowledgement or by court order.  However, if a child is born while the parents are married, the parent’s spouse is considered the legal parent, regardless of biology. This may create some concerns or issues that require the court’s involvement. For example, it may affect whether and how much a person may receive or be obligated to pay for child support.  Paternity actions may also result in the establishment of a parenting plan, which includes a time-sharing schedule.

The attorneys at Nicole L. Goetz, P.L. have experience addressing these issues in the context of a paternity action as well as other types of family law cases. For more information, please contact our office in Naples, Florida to schedule a confidential consultation.

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