Paternity | How to Establish Paternity in Orlando, Florida

One of the most pressing issues involved in child custody is ensuring our kids receive the best possible care and that their interests are protected. The default decision by the court is often to give more custody to the mother. However, there are also fathers who care about their children and want to provide them with love and attention. Unfortunately, getting paternal child custody can be difficult. How can you get paternal custody? 

If you want to receive paternal custody information, gain custody rights over your children, and protect your legal interests, we can help. The board-certified paternity lawyers at Fighter Law have a great deal of experience in child custody and family law, including bringing success to caring fathers who want paternal rights. Our clients trust us to get them the outstanding results they deserve, and we dedicate ourselves to supporting them through every step of the legal process. We will provide similar support and services when you work with us.

Why Is It Difficult to Get Paternal Child Custody in Orlando?

Luckily, it’s extremely rare for one parent to receive full child custody in Florida. This makes it much easier for fathers to stay in their children’s lives and maintain healthy relationships, even while co-parenting. However, if you want to receive full custody of your child as a father, the process is a bit more difficult. 

According to Orlando and Florida laws, fathers and mothers must be treated equally in custody cases, meaning your child’s mother should not automatically have the upper hand. Some judges and court officials may have a bias toward mothers receiving child custody, but this does not mean all hope is lost. If you want to improve your odds of receiving full or greater child custody, we strongly recommend you work with a paternity lawyer in Orlando to level the playing field. This will be essential if you want to prove your case far more favorably during legal proceedings.

What Should You Do if You Want Child Custody as a Father in Orlando?

To receive full child custody as a father in Orlando, you must prepare adequately. We recommend you follow specific steps to improve your chances of success, including our primary suggestions. Please consider these tips while you strategize.

Collect Relevant Documents

If you want to win custody of your child as a father, it’s best to collect and compile all relevant documents and paperwork. This may include past custody, visitation, and child support agreements. We also recommend you collect records reflecting your financial well-being, ability to provide for your child, and any other relevant information or evidence.

Avoid Discussing Your Legal Circumstances

We highly encourage you to avoid discussing your legal circumstances with others outside of legal settings. Speaking with others about your legal matters may result in shared information being used against you. If you want to put your best foot forward and prove your ability to care for your child, it is in your interest to take as few risks as possible.

The only exception to this rule is working with and speaking to a Orlando paternity lawyer. You have the right to legal counsel, and working with a paternity lawyer gives you access to the attorney-client relationship. This gives you a great deal of privacy, meaning you have greater freedom to discuss all aspects of your legal matters and increased control over how information is spread.

Work With a Lawyer

Your paternity attorney can help you in many ways during the legal process, such as completing and filing paperwork, speaking on your behalf, compiling and assessing information, and building robust arguments in your favor. 

We also suggest you refrain from representing yourself during legal matters. Instead, speak with and retain a child custody paternity attorney in Orlando. If you represent yourself, there is a great risk of misrepresentation and reducing your chances of success. A Orlando paternity lawyer can help you avoid mistakes, represent you clearly and favorably, and boost your odds of an excellent outcome. 

We also recommend you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to improve your odds of success. Giving your paternity attorney adequate time to work on your case can significantly impact the outcome of your case.