Paternity & Fathers Rights Lawyers for Clearwater, St.
Petersburg, New Port Richey & Greater Tampa Bay, Florida
A
father who is not married to his children’s mother should
be aware that his rights as a parent could be in jeopardy.
Parental rights may be at risk even if an unwed father is
happily living with the mother of his children. Whether you
are a single dad in Clearwater or an unmarried father in Tampa,
certain elements of Florida law may land you in the office
of a paternity and fathers rights lawyer. Before law becomes
an issue in your family relationships, you should establish
paternity and protect your rights as a father by contacting
a family law attorney as soon as possible.
According
to Florida law, if you are not married to your child’s
mother at the time of your child’s birth, your rights
as a father may be limited. Even if your name is on your child’s
birth certificate as the father, if you are not married, you
may have difficulty visiting your child or having a say in
his or her upbringing without court involvement.
To
resolve this situation, the first step is to legally prove
that you are the father of the child. This is established
through a paternity test. DNA paternity tests are fairly routine,
typically requiring the father, the child, and sometimes the
mother to submit an oral swab or small blood sample to a DNA
testing lab. The cost of DNA paternity tests vary depending
on how quickly you want the results and how many people are
tested in your situation. The Florida paternity and fathers
rights lawyers at Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto in Clearwater
may be able to assist you in finding a reputable and affordable
DNA testing lab in the Tampa Bay area.
Once
you are able to prove you are the father of a child, you should
be eligible for the same rights as a married father. At this
point, the court will recognize that you have rights to custody
and the other joys and responsibilities of parenthood. Your
child also has the right to your involvement as his or her
parent. The following are some of the rights that you and
your child may be entitled to after a paternity test comes
back in your favor.
For
you as the father:
-
Placing your name on the child’s birth certificate
- Making
decisions about the child’s medical care, education,
religion, activities, etc.
-
Partaking in the child’s activities
-
Seeing your child’s educational and medical records
-
Speaking to others involved in the child’s life such
as teachers, doctors, dentists, coaches, etc.
For
your child:
-
Child support
-
Social Security benefits
-
Inheritance
-
Scientific evidence that you are definitely his or her father
-
Legal establishment of your identity as the father
-
Medical insurance for the child
-
Family medical history
Paternity
and fathers rights are as important for your children as they
are for you. It is definitely in your children’s best
interest for you to be involved in their lives, and Florida
law agrees with this principle.
Tinny,
Meyer & Piccarreto, P.A., is a team of family law and
divorce attorneys with a main office in Clearwater, Florida.
We also have offices in New Port Richey and St. Petersburg,
enabling us to serve the needs of families throughout the
Tampa Bay area. If you have any concerns about establishing
paternity and protecting your rights as a father, we welcome
you to call or e-mail our Clearwater, Florida office and schedule
a consultation with our paternity and fathers rights lawyers.
As
attorneys, we recommend that you make sure your rights as
a father are safeguarded. Establish paternity as soon as possible
and discuss your case with a paternity and fathers rights
lawyer. Please contact Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto, P.A.,
today for more information about meeting us for a consultation
at our offices in Clearwater, St Petersburg, or New Port Richey,
Florida. Our paternity and fathers rights lawyers have the
experience and knowledge to protect your future and your child’s
future from legal uncertainties.
We
represent paternity and fathers’ rights clients throughout
the greater Tampa Bay area including the communities of Safety
Harbor, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, Trinity, Dunedin,
Largo, and Belleair as well as Pinellas County, Pasco County,
Hillsborough County, and beyond.
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