Avoid These Mistakes When Navigating Your Florida Paternity Case
Paternity cases often end up being one of the more complex and emotionally charged family law cases, so it’s important for couples to avoid making these proceedings even more difficult by avoiding a few common pitfalls. Read on to learn more about the most common paternity-related errors that our legal team sees.
Delaying Legal Action
One of the biggest mistakes that couples make when grappling with a paternity case is to delay taking legal action. Whether seeking to establish paternity of your child, or attempting to obtain child support from a putative father, initiating legal proceedings quickly can help ensure that your issue is resolved in a timely manner. Delays can prevent a parent from enjoying his full parental rights, like child visitation, prevent a parent from receiving child support, and can even affect a child’s well-being. The best way to avoid this is to start the process of establishing paternity as soon as possible.
Failing to Establish Legal Paternity
Worse than delaying paternity proceedings is failing to establish legal paternity at all. Establishing paternity is an important step, as it is critical to asserting parental rights and responsibilities. Although initiating the process can seem intimidating, going through the proper legal channels to establish paternity is extremely important. Having a legal representative on your side can help you feel less overwhelmed during the process, as they will be well-versed in complying with court-ordered DNA testing and other court mandates.
Ignoring Alternative Dispute Resolution
Going to court to resolve a paternity dispute isn’t always necessary. In fact, many couples are able to resolve their paternity issues on their own by voluntarily acknowledging paternity or by seeking help from Florida’s Child Support Program. Another way to resolve disagreements regarding paternity is to engage in mediation, which can help parents (with the assistance of a neutral third party mediator) reach agreements on important issues without court intervention. This can reduce the emotional toll that court proceedings take on the parties involved, can result in a speedier resolution, and can also save on legal fees.
Failing to Consult with a Paternity Lawyer
Trying to navigate a paternity case on your own, without legal guidance, often ends up being a costly mistake. An experienced lawyer can provide advice, walk you through each part of the paternity process, ensure that you understand your rights and legal obligations, and take the steps that will give you a better chance of a favorable outcome. Don’t miss out on these advantages by failing to reach out to an attorney.
How Our Clearwater Paternity Lawyers Can Help
Navigating a paternity case requires experience, legal insight, and attention to detail. At Cairns Law, our dedicated Clearwater paternity lawyers provide all of these advantages to our clients, helping them seek an outcome that is best for their family. Call us at 727-683-1472 or reach out to us via online message to schedule an appointment with a member of our legal team. We are available not only on weekdays, but also for evening and weekend appointments.
Sources:
floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Pages/paternity.aspx
floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Pages/genetic_testing.aspx
