Unmarried Dads and Changes to Paternity Rights

Florida’s legal landscape for paternity rights has recently undergone a significant shift, offering unmarried fathers more opportunities to assert their parental rights. With the introduction of the bipartisan proposal HB 775, the state’s approach to paternity has evolved, addressing long standing issues and ensuring fairer treatment for unmarried fathers. Seasoned Orlando family lawyers are up to date on all of these changes and can assist parents as they navigate them.

Key Changes Under HB 775

In the past, unmarried fathers in the Sunshine State faced challenges in establishing and exercising their parental rights. Unlike married fathers, whose paternity is presumed, unmarried fathers had to take additional legal steps to gain recognition as their child’s legal parent. This disparity created hurdles in securing visitation rights and ensuring their role in their child’s life.

Aimed at creating a more equitable system for unmarried fathers, HB 775 was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and took effect in July 2023. This means several important changes to FL paternity laws were enacted.

• Simplified establishment of paternity. HB 775 streamlines the process for establishing paternity, allowing fathers to be recognized more swiftly. This includes easier access to voluntary acknowledgment forms and expedited genetic testing procedures.
• Enhanced rights during pregnancy. Unmarried fathers now have a recognized right to be involved in the pregnancy, such as being informed about prenatal care and having a say in major decisions. This change underscores the importance of a father’s role from the earliest stages of a child’s life.
• Unjust right termination protections. The bill provides stronger protections against the arbitrary termination of parental rights. Fathers now have more robust legal recourse if their rights are challenged without just cause.
• Support and Custody considerations. Now that there are more protections in place once paternity is established, fathers can seek custody and visitation rights seamlessly. Additionally, it provides clearer guidelines for child support obligations, ensuring that financial responsibilities are fairly determined.

Today, unmarried fathers can voluntarily acknowledge paternity at the hospital, during the birth of the child, or through other simplified administrative processes. In situations where paternity is disputed, fathers have the right to request genetic testing to establish their biological connection.

Legal Guidance and Protecting Your Rights

Gone are the days when a father needed to petition a Florida court to have official parental rights and responsibilities. Now the moment a mother and father move forward with voluntarily signing an acknowledgement of paternity, both parents have an equal say in their child’s life, including concerns such as support, education, health care, and parenting time.

Anytime you need legal support as an unmarried father, know that an Orlando family lawyer can assist in negotiating custody and visitation arrangements, helping you to reach amicable agreements with the child’s mother.

Who are you talking to about changes in state paternity laws? Make sure you’re getting information from an expert. Fathers can confidently navigate the current legal landscape with the help of the family law attorneys at Donna Hung Law Group. Call 407-999-0099 or contact us online to get started.