To establish paternity, any woman who is pregnant, or has a child, and any man who has reason to believe he is the father of a child, may request that paternity be determined and established. In any proceeding to establish paternity, the court may require scientific (DNA) testing. A determination of paternity for a child born out of wedlock also requires the father to pay child support and gives the father time-sharing (visitation) rights.

A man who believes he is the biological father of a child born out of wedlock is permitted to claim paternity of the child by filing with the Florida Putative Father Registry. This claim of paternity may be filed at any time prior to the child’s birth. An unmarried biological father who wishes to maintain his paternal rights should file with the Florida Putative Father Registry because failure to do so may result in the termination of those rights.

To disestablish paternity, a petition must be served on the mother or other legal guardian of the child, and must include a sworn statement made by the father. Along with the affidavit the father must also provide biological testing to support his petition to disestablish his paternal rights.

Paternity the Key to Child Custody and Child Support

Establishing legal paternity is a key part of child custody and child support agreements. Whoever is determined to be the legal father will have all the rights and responsibilities of a father. Some of these rights and responsibilities include requirement to pay child support, coordinating with the child’s mother in a joint custody agreement, sole custody, visitation agreements and more.

Our goal is to help you accurately determine paternity so that the right custody, visitation and child support agreements can be reached. For answers to your questions about establishing paternity, call Jacksonville divorce lawyer Wendy Norman today.

Going through a divorce can be a difficult time in the life of both parties. Even though both may agree to the divorce, it is still a major change in your life. Along with no longer having that person in your life, you may also be faced with the issue of alimony. Alimony is paid to one spouse by the other spouse as a way to ensure that the party receiving the alimony is able to continue to have the type of life they are used to having. This is fairly common when one spouse was the one who worked outside the home, while the other stayed home for the children. There are several types of alimony and spousal support in Florida, all of which are geared to ensure fairness to both parties.

One of the most common questions asked when it comes to alimony is whether alimony is counted as income. The short answer to this question is yes, the alimony does need to be included in the income totals for the spouse who receives alimony. For the spouse who receives alimony, this is often going to allow him or her to file taxes in a higher income bracket than they would otherwise.

The Following Fiancial Factors Apply to Alimony:

· One party makes payments based on an agreement made between the parties
· Alimony payments are not combined with other payments like child support
· The agreement should dictate when the alimony payments end
· The parties must live apart
· A joint tax return cannot be filed by the parties
· Ensure that no extra alimony is being paid

If the payment is for the actual purpose of child support, part of a property settlement, to help keep up the property, or is purely voluntary, the payment is not a true alimony payment. In these situations, the money given is not really alimony, so it does not have to be considered as a part of the party’s income.

Avoid Confusion – Ask a Qualified Divorce Attorney

Alimony can be a tricky path to navigate without the proper help. There are several federal laws and regulations that are in place, meant to help ensure that alimony is paid to the spouse, and that this income is reported as it should be at the end of the year. Without help, many people become confused and this can lead to severe financial consequences.

For those who are located in Jacksonville, Florida, Wendy Norman is here for you. Whether you are the spouse who needs help with alimony payments or the spouse who wants to ensure alimony is being paid, give her a call. She has helped hundreds of others get their lives back in order after divorce, and she can help you as well.

Call 904.306.9926 For a Free Consultation Today!

This is a common question we’re asked. When a divorce happens, there are many cases in which one spouse has to pay alimony to the other spouse. In situations involving a child or children, one parent is often ordered by the court to pay child support, even in situations in which the parents may have not been married. The goal of alimony and child support is to ensure that the change in lifestyle brought about by the divorce does not negatively affect the quality of living of the spouse and/or children. Even with a court order requiring one party to alimony or child support, in many situations, an ex stops paying, leaving the other party and the children in a dire financial state situation.

Notify the Court of Unreceived Alimony or Child Support

What happens when you are not getting paid the alimony or child support that is owed to you? You first have to notify the court. This lets the court know the ex is no longer paying what was ordered by the court. Your lawyer can help to file the necessary paperwork that is needed.

Once the court gets this information, there are a couple of things the court can do:

1. The court may freeze the bank account of the person not paying and direct deposit what is owed and monthly amounts thereafter into the account of the other party
2. The court can deduct the person’s wages straight from their check and deposit this into the other party’s account
3. The court may order jail time in situations if it is clear that the ex is simply not paying, even though he/she does have the ability to pay

The court can also revoke a person’s driver’s license, hunting license or fishing license for not paying alimony or child support.

If you have an ex-spouse or partner who has stopped paying child support or alimony, the court can step in and take control of the case. You should not remain quiet and hope for the best. If your ex-spouse or partner is not paying now, and does not have a good reason for not paying, then chances are he or she is not going to pay in the future. Having a good lawyer on your side is the only way to approach these types of cases.

For those who are located in Jacksonville, Florida, Wendy Norman, is a family attorney working with all matters related to divorce, family, child support and alimony. She will work hard for you to ensure your case is handled properly and that you receive the support you deserve.

For a Free Consultation With a Jacksonville Divorce Attorney, Call Wendy Norman (904) 306-9926.