Paternity in the Orlando, Florida Area
- July 21, 2022
- ontarget
- Custody
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You are the mother of a child or the father of a child. You were not married to the other party at the time of the child’s birth. However, you want to establish Paternity, Timesharing, and Child Support in the Orlando, Florida area. What can you do?
Motion to Determine Paternity, Timesharing, and Child Support
You can file a Motion to Determine Paternity, Timesharing, and Child Support in the Judicial Circuit of the Court wherein the child is living. The jurisdiction for Timesharing lies where the child has lived the last six months.
The filing fee to the Clerk of Court for filing a Petition to Determine Paternity, Timesharing, and Child Support is $400. You must also pay a $10 fee to the Clerk of Court to obtain a summons to have served on the opposing party. You will need to pay a fee for the sheriff or process server to serve the opposing party. A process server will charge approximately $50. The sheriff may charge less than that.
Determination of Parentage and Best Interest of the Child
Florida Statute 742 is the statute on Determination of Parentage. Florida Statute 61.13 is the Statute on Best Interest of the Child. The judge analyzes that statute to determine Timesharing. The factors the court examines are in Florida Statute 61.13(3) (a) – (t). The Florida Statute on Child Support is Florida Statute 61.30. Florida Statute 742.045 is the Florida Statute on Attorney’s Fees, Suit Money, and Costs.
The court may, from time to time, after considering the financial resources of both parties, order a party to pay a reasonable amount of attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs. The party requesting attorney’s fees must show a need for attorney’s fees, and that the opposing party has an ability to pay such attorney’s fees.
You may also establish child support through the Florida Department of Revenue if you financially qualify. If you apply for government assistance such as WIC, AFDC, etc. then the Department of Revenue will pursue the child support from the opposing party.
If you have more questions regarding a Marital and Family Law matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney client privilege.