Until paternity is established, an unmarried father generally cannot enforce time-sharing, and a mother often cannot obtain a child support order against him. Establishing paternity is the gateway that makes both possible, which is why it usually comes before any parenting or support arrangement.
Once paternity is legally settled, the case can move to a parenting plan and a support calculation under Florida’s guidelines. A paternity lawyer in Sanford can guide a parent from the initial determination through those follow-on issues.
