Tampa Paternity Lawyer
Last updated on October 22, 2026
Many family law conflicts involve paternity issues. When a child is born to a married couple, the husband is presumed to be the father. In these situations, there is often no argument as to the identity of the father.
However, when a child is born to unmarried parents, things become a bit more complicated. Establishing paternity is not as easy, but it should be a priority. Children deserve to have a legal father, and identifying the legal father of the child gives all the parties involved certain rights.
Genetic testing can identify a child’s biological father. If you are having paternity issues, Westchase Law, P.A., can help. Our knowledgeable Tampa paternity lawyers can help establish and confirm paternity.
Establishing Paternity
There are several ways to determine paternity based on the situation:
- At birth. If the parents are married, paternity is automatically established. If the parents are unmarried, paternity can be established voluntarily by both parents at the hospital.
- By acknowledgement. Both parents can voluntarily establish paternity when the child is older. If the mother later marries the child’s father, paternity can be established through the marriage license.
- By order. Paternity can also be established through an order for genetic testing. It can be ordered through the court. If ordered by the Florida Department of Revenue, you do not have to go to court.
However, paternity actions can be confusing. Even if there is already a father’s name on the birth certificate, if another man believes that he is the father of the child, he can file a paternity action. This means he can request a DNA test to determine who is actually the father. While this is rare, it can happen, and that’s when you may need a family law attorney.
Benefits Of Genetic Testing
Genetic testing establishes paternity, which offers benefits and rights for the child and the parents.
For the child, this means that:
- They have information about their family medical history.
- They know the identity of their father.
- They have their father’s name on their birth certificate.
- They have health or life insurance from either parent.
- They get financial support from both parents.
- They get access to government benefits from their parents, such as Social Security benefits, veteran’s benefits, and military allowances.
- They can inherit from their parents.
Parents also get certain rights, such as:
- The ability to request child support
- A court order for shared time with the child
- Having their name on the birth certificate
Contact Westchase Law, P.A., Today
Establishing paternity comes with many benefits for both the parents and child. It is important for a child to know their father and genetic and medical histories.
Our firm’s team can assist you with family law issues such as paternity. Contact us today to learn more about the process. Call our Tampa paternity attorneys at 813-490-5211 to schedule a consultation.