Petition to Determine Paternity & Related  Relief (Florida)

In Florida, either a birth mother or father may ask (petition) the courts to establish legal paternity. In essence, it’s asking the courts to establish who the father of a minor child is. This typically includes asking for relief for:

• Time-sharing
• Child support
• Any other related relief such expenses for travel (long distant parenting plans)
• Relief for past and/or present special medical or dental needs of the child
• Attorney Fees
• Retroactive financial relief

Filing to Petition a Party to Establish Legal Paternity in Tampa Bay

You do not need to hire a Tampa child custody attorney to file for legal paternity or to contest a paternity lawsuit in Tampa Bay. It is typically recommended and beneficial to do so, however. This is particularly true if you and the other parent are not very amicable, or if the other party is denying paternity or you have high assets. Every situation is unique, so it truly depends on whether the other parent is willing to collaborate with you on drafting a meaningful parenting plan and to agree to other matters relating to the minor child.

Related:

Parenting Plans

Even IF you can agree, it is very, very important to draft a detailed and very specific parenting plan. Doing so can help you to avoid “post order” child custody disputes. You can always ask for a parenting plan or timesharing modification, but there must be an unanticipated and permanent change in circumstances to warrant a change. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for some parents to insist on a 50/50 timesharing schedule, then refuse to comply with it. This can happen for several reasons, but because support is calculated (in-part) based on the number overnight stays, it can be easy for a parent to agree to a parenting plan without considering whether they will have the ability to comply with that court order.

Have You Been Served with a Petition to Determine Paternity and Related Relief in Tampa Bay?

If you have been served with a Petition to Determine Paternity and Related Relief in Pinellas, Pasco or Hillsborough County, Fl, reach out to our law firm to schedule a consultation. Whether you are contesting paternity or not, you will still need to file your answers to the Petition. This may include a counterpetition. If you’re contesting paternity you will likely have a hearing to determine what the issues are and/or  to order genetic testing.

Once legal paternity is established, the courts will move forward to address timesharing, child support and other related matters which may be related to long distant parenting plans, special needs of the child or other matters to resolve. If you anticipate high conflict in a paternity or other child custody matter, we have the expertise, legal strategies and solutions that serve to represent your best interests. Nilo J Sanchez & Associates PA has over 30 years of experience representing clients in legal paternity cases, contested paternity cases and high net worth legal paternity cases in Tampa Bay. We offer zoom, in-person and telephonic consultations for your convenience.

Nilo J Sanchez & Associates PA

Consultations: (813) 879-4600
Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco

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