Citrus County Paternity Attorney
More than 20 years of Florida legal experience. Based in Crystal River and representing mothers and fathers throughout Citrus County in paternity and related family-law matters.
When parents are not married, establishing paternity can be the legal starting point for determining a father’s rights and responsibilities and for creating enforceable arrangements involving parental responsibility, timesharing, and child support.
Attorney Steven D. Fichtman helps mothers and fathers understand the paternity process, resolve disputed parentage when necessary, and address the parenting and financial issues that follow.
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What Is a Florida Paternity Case?
A paternity action determines legal parentage when paternity has not already been established by law or another recognized method.
After a child is born, a parent may also ask the court to determine parental responsibility and child support and to create a parenting plan and timesharing schedule.
A paternity case therefore is not simply about identifying the biological father. It can establish the legal framework that governs the parents’ rights, responsibilities, financial obligations, and relationship with the child.
Who Can File a Paternity Action?
Florida law allows a mother who is pregnant or has a child, a man who has reason to believe he is the father, or the child to bring a proceeding to determine paternity when parentage has not otherwise been established.
The appropriate procedure depends on how parentage has already been documented, whether either party disputes paternity, and what parenting or support relief is being requested.
When Paternity Is Disputed
If biological parentage is disputed, scientific testing can become an important part of the case. Florida law permits the court to require appropriate genetic testing in a paternity proceeding.
Once the parentage issue is resolved, the case may continue to address parental responsibility, a parenting plan, timesharing, child support, and other appropriate relief.
Testing should be handled through a reliable process that preserves the integrity of the results and complies with any applicable court order.
Paternity and Parental Rights
For unmarried parents, establishing biological parentage and obtaining an enforceable parenting arrangement are related but distinct issues.
After paternity is established, the court can address parental responsibility and create a parenting plan and timesharing schedule under Florida’s family-law statutes.
A parenting plan can address the regular timesharing schedule, holidays, transportation, school matters, health care, communication, decision-making, and other responsibilities affecting the child.
Learn More About Child Custody, Timesharing & Parenting Plans
Paternity and Child Support
A paternity proceeding can also establish child support. Florida’s child-support guidelines generally consider both parents’ income, allowable deductions, the parenting arrangement, child-care expenses, health-insurance costs, and other statutory components.
Depending on the circumstances, the case may also involve retroactive support, pregnancy or birth-related expenses, health insurance, or other financial issues authorized by Florida law.
Learn More About Child Support
Why a Parenting Plan Matters
An informal parenting arrangement may work while the parents are cooperating, but it may provide little protection when circumstances change or disagreements develop.
A court-approved parenting plan creates enforceable expectations about timesharing and parental responsibilities. Clear provisions can reduce future uncertainty concerning schedules, school decisions, holidays, exchanges, transportation, and communication.
The goal is not simply to obtain an order. The goal is to create a workable structure for the child and both parents.
How Fichtman Law Approaches a Paternity Case
- Determine What Is Actually Disputed — Some paternity cases involve a genuine dispute over biological parentage. Others involve no dispute about parentage but significant disagreements about timesharing, decision-making, or support. We begin by identifying which issues actually require resolution.
- Preparation Before Action — Before recommending a strategy, we review the history of the parents’ relationship with the child, the existing parenting arrangement, financial information, communications, and other facts that may affect the case.
- Organization Matters — Paternity cases can involve genetic-testing information, financial records, calendars, school or medical records, communications, witness information, and prior administrative or court documents.
- Strategy Is More Important Than Noise — Sometimes the appropriate first step is scientific testing. Sometimes parents can negotiate a parenting plan or support resolution. Other cases require mediation, discovery, hearings, or trial.
Preparation Before Action. Resolution When Possible. Litigation When Necessary.
When the Parents Agree
If both parents agree on parentage and can reach appropriate terms concerning parenting and support, the case may be resolved more efficiently through an agreed parenting plan, support arrangement, and proposed final judgment.
Even when the parents agree, the documents should be clear and complete. Terms involving timesharing, parental responsibility, school issues, transportation, child support, and future obligations can affect the family for years.
When the Parents Do Not Agree
When the parents cannot agree on parentage, timesharing, parental responsibility, support, or another material issue, the court may be required to decide the dispute.
Contested paternity cases may involve scientific testing, financial discovery, parenting evidence, witness testimony, mediation, and court hearings.
What If a Child Support Order Exists but There Is No Parenting Plan?
A support order does not necessarily mean that a complete parenting plan or timesharing schedule has been established.
Florida’s paternity statutes address circumstances in which a paternity judgment contains child support but no parenting plan or timesharing schedule. A parent who wants enforceable parental responsibility and timesharing rights should have the existing judgment and case history reviewed.
Can a Paternity Order Be Modified Later?
Parenting plans, timesharing schedules, and child-support obligations established in a paternity case may later become the subject of modification proceedings when the applicable legal requirements are met.
The standard depends on what provision is being changed. A parenting-plan modification and a child-support modification are governed by different legal standards.
Disestablishment of Paternity
Florida law contains a separate statutory procedure that may allow a man, in limited circumstances, to seek disestablishment of paternity or termination of a child-support obligation based on newly discovered evidence.
That procedure has specific statutory requirements and should not be confused with an ordinary initial paternity action. If this issue applies to your situation, the existing judgment and supporting evidence should be reviewed carefully.
Paternity Questions Clients Commonly Ask
Who handles paternity cases in Citrus County?
Fichtman Law represents mothers and fathers throughout Citrus County in paternity matters involving parentage, DNA testing, parental responsibility, parenting plans, timesharing, child support, and related issues. The firm is based in Crystal River.
What does a paternity case establish in Florida?
A paternity case can establish legal parentage and may also address parental responsibility, a parenting plan, timesharing, child support, and other appropriate relief.
Do unmarried fathers automatically have timesharing rights?
Legal parentage and an enforceable parenting arrangement are separate issues. After paternity is established, a parent can ask the court to determine parental responsibility and create a parenting plan and timesharing schedule.
Can either parent request DNA testing?
When paternity is disputed in a judicial paternity proceeding, scientific testing may be requested and the court may order appropriate testing under Florida law.
Can paternity, timesharing, and child support be handled in the same case?
Yes. After the child is born, a paternity proceeding can address parentage, parental responsibility, a parenting plan, timesharing, and child support.
If both parents agree who the father is, do we still need a court case?
The answer depends on how paternity has already been established and whether the parents need enforceable orders concerning parenting or child support. A legal review can determine what procedure is appropriate.
Does paying child support automatically give a father timesharing?
Not necessarily. A support obligation and a parenting plan are distinct issues. If no parenting plan or timesharing schedule has been established, additional court action may be necessary.
Can a paternity judgment be changed later?
Certain parenting and support provisions may later be modified if the applicable legal requirements are met. The standard depends on the type of provision being modified.
What if I believe I am not the biological father after a paternity judgment has already been entered?
Florida has a separate statutory procedure that may apply in limited circumstances to disestablishment of paternity or termination of a child-support obligation based on newly discovered evidence. The existing judgment and evidence should be reviewed carefully.
What documents may be useful for a paternity consultation?
Depending on the issues, useful information may include birth or parentage records, existing child-support or court orders, communications between the parents, parenting schedules, financial records, and any genetic-testing information already available.
How do I choose a paternity attorney in Citrus County?
Consider whether the attorney regularly handles Florida paternity and related family-law matters, understands the connection between parentage, parenting rights, timesharing, and support, explains the process clearly, and prepares carefully. Fichtman Law is based in Crystal River and represents clients throughout Citrus County.
More Than 20 Years of Florida Legal Experience
Steven D. Fichtman has practiced law in Florida since 2005 and has spent more than two decades representing clients in Citrus County.
Fichtman Law is located in Crystal River and represents mothers and fathers in paternity and family-law matters throughout Citrus County, including Crystal River, Inverness, Lecanto, Beverly Hills, Homosassa, Floral City, and surrounding communities.
Talk With a Citrus County Paternity Attorney
A paternity case can determine much more than biological parentage. It can establish the legal rights, parenting structure, and financial responsibilities that affect a child and both parents.
Contact Fichtman Law to discuss whether paternity has already been legally established, what issues remain unresolved, and the appropriate next steps.