Resources for Single Parents – Part 1

Today, most of us know a single parent facing the challenges of schedules, rising costs and transportation to name a few. We are digging deeper into resources for the single parent.

The definition we are using for single parent is from the website: Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development “Single parent families are comprised of a parent/caregiver and one or more dependent children without the presence and support of a spouse or adult partner who is sharing the responsibility of parenting.”

Florida Law

Today we are addressing the change to the law regarding unwed parents and parental rights. In April of 2023 the state passed a new law (effective July 1, 2023) making it easier for a father to establish paternity. In the past Florida recognized only the mother as at the legal guardian and the father had to pay for paternity tests and go to court to be recognized as also being a legal guardian.

Why does this matter? The offices of Vasquel de Lara Law Group of Miami, Florida said it best:

“An establishment of paternity can help provide the child with family medical history, health and life insurance, financial support, and a right to inheritances and other benefits like such as military or social security. For the mother and father, an establishment of paternity gives each the right to get child support, get visitation or custody rights, and have a say in legal decisions about the child.”

(Read their full article here.)

https://www.familylawprotection.com/florida-family-law-5-ways-to-establish-paternity/

There are 5 ways to establish paternity in Florida. 1) Marriage, 2) Acknowledgement of paternity (the new law) 3) Court order 4) Genetic testing with administrative order 5) Legitimation (basically getting married – though you may need to file additional paperwork).

In the case of ‘acknowledgement of paternity’ an unwed couple who are parents of the child or children writes a document stating who the mother and father of the children are and then has the document notarized making it a legal document. This can also be done at the hospital at the birth of the child.

Please be aware if a father doesn’t establish paternity all legal rights regarding the child falls to the mother. The law also describes expectations for time-sharing schedules and a parenting plan.

Next article will focus on the mental health and well-being of the single parent.