On June 12, 2023, Governor DeSantis signed CS/HB 775 into law. This new legislation automatically establishes paternity rights for all fathers who are not married to the child’s mother and who have signed an acknowledgment of Paternity and/or are on a child’s birth certificate. This legislation is a substantial gain for all fathers throughout the state as the legal relationship between the father and child will be automatically established as a matter of law.
Prior to the enactment of this legislation, fathers in the State of Florida had no legal rights to their children who were born out of wedlock even if they were listed on the child’s birth certificate and/or signed an acknowledgment of paternity. Now, fathers who are listed on the child’s birth certificate and/or have signed an acknowledgement of paternity will automatically have legal rights to their child as a matter of law.
However, one may still have to seek court intervention to establish timesharing and parental responsibility.
This legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023.