Miami Paternity Lawyers

Board Certified Attorneys for Mothers & Fathers in Miami-Dade County

Paternity cases carry real legal and financial consequences, and the decisions made early in the process shape what’s possible later. At Abramowitz & Associates, Evan L. Abramowitz and Jordan B. Abramowitz are both Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar. This distinction is held by fewer than 1% of Florida attorneys. Our boutique firm handles paternity matters throughout Miami-Dade County for clients seeking to establish, contest, or disestablish paternity, and we bring trial and appellate experience to the cases we take on.

Under Florida’s Chapter 742, when a child is born outside of marriage, no presumption of paternity exists. A court must legally identify the father before parental responsibility, timesharing, and child support can be addressed. Informal arrangements carry no legal force until paternity is formally established, which means the stakes of getting this right are high from the start.

Call (754) 240-7536 or reach out online to schedule a complimentary one-hour consultation with our Miami paternity attorneys. Virtual and in-person options are available.

How We Help Mothers with Paternity Matters

When a child is born to unmarried parents in Florida, the mother is the sole legal guardian by default. Establishing paternity legally changes that. We help mothers navigate the full process:

• Establishing paternity – We help unmarried mothers legally establish a father’s identity to seek child support, health insurance coverage, and other benefits their children may be entitled to receive.
• Securing custody arrangements – We assist mothers in establishing parenting plans and custody arrangements grounded in the child’s best interests.
• Contested paternity – When the biological father disputes his identity or refuses to cooperate, we gather evidence and coordinate genetic testing to establish the record.
• Complex income determination – Florida Statute 61.30 governs child support calculations, but those calculations only reflect reality when all income is properly identified. We handle support matters involving self-employed parents, business owners, stock compensation, and investment income so the numbers are accurate.

The Florida Department of Revenue can also initiate administrative paternity and support proceedings on behalf of mothers receiving public assistance, sometimes without the alleged father’s prior knowledge. If you’re navigating a DOR-initiated proceeding, we can help you understand your position and respond appropriately.

How We Help Fathers with Paternity Matters

Fathers face a different set of risks in paternity matters, and Florida law doesn’t automatically protect them. Whether you’re trying to establish your rights or challenge a paternity designation, acting with informed counsel matters.

• Establishing parental rights – We help biological fathers legally establish paternity to seek custody rights, timesharing, and the ability to participate in decisions about their children’s education, health, and welfare.
• Challenging paternity – If you have reason to doubt a paternity designation, we guide you through DNA genetic testing and the legal proceedings needed to contest it. A documented chain of custody is required for genetic evidence to be admissible in court, and we coordinate testing accordingly.
• Disestablishment under Florida Statute 742.18 – When evidence shows a man is not the biological father of a child he has been supporting, Florida law may provide a pathway to disestablish paternity and modify support obligations going forward. Courts won’t grant relief if the man married the mother and voluntarily assumed the parental obligation, acknowledged paternity in a sworn statement, consented to be named on the birth certificate, voluntarily promised in writing to support the child, disregarded written notice from a state agency or court to submit to scientific testing, or signed a voluntary acknowledgment after learning he was not the biological father. Relief under this statute applies prospectively. Previously paid child support cannot be recovered.
• Voluntary acknowledgment review – Signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity has binding legal consequences. If you signed one without complete information, we can help you understand what options, if any, remain available.
• Florida Putative Father Registry – An unmarried father who wants to preserve his right to notice and consent if a child is placed for adoption may file with the Florida Putative Father Registry through the Office of Vital Statistics. We can advise you on the timing and process.
• DOR proceedings – If the Department of Revenue has initiated proceedings against you, we can provide immediate representation to protect your rights and help ensure the process is handled correctly.

Fathers facing adverse rulings also have options beyond the trial court. We handle family law appeals in Miami, making us one of the few firms equipped to challenge a lower court decision when review may be appropriate.

Common Challenges in Paternity Cases

Paternity matters often involve sophisticated legal and practical obstacles. We’ve successfully guided clients through many of the challenges below, among others.