Establishing Paternity in Florida

Paternity of a child born outside marriage can be established by a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents, either notarized or witnessed by two people and signed under penalty of perjury, with both parents' Social Security numbers. It creates a rebuttable presumption of paternity, and either signer may rescind it within 60 days after signing or by the date of an administrative or court proceeding about the child in which the signer is a party, whichever is earlier. After 60 days it establishes paternity and can be challenged in court only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. In a court paternity case, the court may order genetic (scientific) testing on its own or on a party's sworn request; a result of 95% or more creates a rebuttable presumption of paternity.