Paternity cases often involve high levels of frustration. A father may be frustrated that he is being denied time with his child. A mother may be aggravated over a dad refusing to acknowledge his offspring. Whatever the situation is that you face it is important to understand that the first step is to go to Court and establish who the father of the child is. Many other matters which relate to children cannot be handled until this is done. Our Melbourne, Florida paternity lawyer handles such disputes for an affordable fee. Contact our office today to speak with an attorney.
Melbourne paternity attorney assisting Brevard County residents with child custody and child support disputes
One is not considered the father of a child until paternity is established. The law requires a determination of parentage before the Court will rule on issues such as child custody, child support, or moving a child outside of Florida. Until paternity is established a father will have no rights or obligations involving the child. This means that dad would not have a right to visitation or to give input regarding medical care, schooling, etc. It also means that the father would not be required to pay child support, contribute to medical expenses, etc. Once paternity is established, however, the Court can award back child support and put a plan in place to make sure that the father is properly reunified with the child.
The first step in such a matter is to file a Petition to Determine Paternity and for Related Relief. In addition to requesting the establishment of parentage, this filing will request the establishment of parental responsibility and time sharing. Parental responsibility (sometimes referred to as “legal custody”) involves the ability to make decisions which impact the child. Time sharing (sometimes referred to as “physical custody”) determines the amount of time the child will spend with each parent. How the Court rules on these issues will depend on what is in the child’s best interest. Having counsel who is familiar with the process will help to ensure that the best possible arguments are made to the Judge.
Lindsey Gardner Shneyder is a Melbourne paternity attorney assisting Brevard County residents in a wide range of family law matters. Once retained she will quickly file the initial Petition for the establishment of parentage. She will take steps to ensure that the best possible arguments regarding custody and support are also made. To build a custody case, our firm will use the discovery process to gain information from the other side. Information we will acquire includes bank statements, financial records, evidence of substance abuse, arrest reports, or other items which relate to one’s fitness to parent. Our lawyer will make sure you are prepared for the final trial, that you know what to expect from the process, and that you are given realistic expectations. Our office focuses on family law so you may focus on the future. Contact us today.
We also service clients in the cities of Titusville, Cocoa, Palm Bay, Grant, Valkaria, and Rockledge, as well as in the Indian River County areas of Fellsmere, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, and Orchid.
Brevard County lawyer providing quality representation in paternity cases at a reasonable cost
Many cannot afford the cost of legal representation. The high cost of lawyers makes many worried that they must choose between low quality services and paying large sums of money. Our goal is to provide quality representation in paternity cases while offering a price which Brevard County residents can afford. Lindsey quickly returns phone calls, responds promptly to emails, and she makes herself available to answer questions. She also handles most cases for a set flat fee and is able to offer modified payment plans in many instances. You do not have to choose between cost and quality. Contact our office today.