Edit Legal Florida Paternity Forms For Free

If you do not wish to hire an attorney, you may file a paternity action yourself. The Florida Supreme Court provides free family law forms and instructions on their website at .flcourts.org. The forms include the documents needed to file a paternity action.

After the child's birth and any time until the child reaches age 18, the mother and child's father can establish paternity if they fill out and sign the Acknowledgment of Paternity form (Form DH-432) *. Both parents must fill out and sign this form in the presence of two witnesses or a notary public.

A home DNA paternity test (for personal knowledge and peace of mind only) costs $130 to $200. A legal DNA paternity test (with court-admissible results) for child support, child visitation, and immigration, typically costs $300 to $500, and includes professional DNA collection.

Paternity Acknowledgement A father's name may be added to his child's birth record only in the case where the mother was unmarried at the time of the child's birth and no father is listed on the birth record. Notarized signatures of both parents OR two witnesses for each parent (may be the same witnesses) are required.

Paternity testing in Florida Other times the mother or alleged father may initiate a petition. In any case, the court may order genetic testing to validate paternity. When the court orders a paternity test, the mother, child, and alleged father must all schedule appointments to have genetic testing performed.

Through the court system, either the mother or the supposed father can file a petition to establish paternity. Additionally, a petition may be filed by a child with legal representation or by the Florida Department of Child Support Services.