Why To Establish Paternity & A Parenting Plan Now Rather Than Later
By Molina “Molly” Arena-Randall, Esq.
More and more people are having children without being married, and unfortunately the law has not caught up. If individuals are not married, many are surprised to learn (unfortunately sometimes the hard way) that many complications can arise from not establishing court-ordered paternity and a parenting plan as soon as possible.
As a family law attorney for Cohen Law Group, we see many clients that have avoided the court process by establishing paternity and a parenting plan. I cannot stress enough how important it is not to delay.
If you are reading this as a separated unmarried parent with children, please read this article and schedule a free consultation immediately.
For unmarried fathers in Florida, Florida does not automatically recognize you as the father.
Even if the mother verbally agrees you are the father, you are voluntarily paying child support, and you are on the birth certificate, Florida does not automatically grant you rights as father. That means that you do not necessarily have the right to see your child or exercise parental authority such as medical and educational decisions. That has to be established and establishing paternity takes time in the courts.
The longer you wait, the longer it takes to secure your rights to see and parent your child.
In addition, even if paternity has been established, your ability to see your child and make decisions have to be approved by the court. In other words, all parental considerations such as when and how much you see your child, what decisions you can make, and who pays for what need to be established in what they call a parenting plan.
It could take months before an agreement is approved.
Considering that some courts are severely congested, it could take months before an agreement is approved and reached by the court, especially if the mother is using delay tactics or being litigious. In other words, the sooner you start, the sooner you can be sure you have rights to see your child and exercise your rights as a father.
For both unmarried fathers and mothers in Florida, establishing paternity and a parenting plan early is also important to set rules that you can enforce. By doing this with the court, you not only guarantee your rights to see your child and exercise parental authority, you also have a mechanism for forcing the other parent to abide by rules.
If you do not have a paternity and parenting plan established, you have very limited ways, if any, to make a party that is violating the rules comply.
Here at Cohen Law Group, we walk you through the emotional process of separating from a significant other and can assist you with establishing a paternity and parenting plan.
Doing this now secures your rights as parents, encourages both parties to follow the rules and generally works to create a more stable and dependable co-parenting environment for your children.
Molina “Molly” Arena-Randall, Esq.
DISCLAIMER: This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site. Using this site or communicating with Cohen Law Group through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship. This site is legal advertising. Please review the full disclaimer for more information by clicking here.
