Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

My 31-year-old daughter has recently become unintentionally pregnant by a man that she only had a causual relationship with. Both parties live in Los Angles, California. My daughter does not believe in abortion and has decided to keep her baby. When my daughter informed the father of the situation, he expressed surprise and told her that he did not want anything to do with the baby, and urged her to have an abortion. He told her that he would have his lawyer draw up the forms to renounce his parential rights (and, of course, his parential responsibilities). My daughter knows that he can not renounce his parential responsibility for his child. She intends to file for a paternity order and child support after the child is born in July, 2010. My question is: From a legal aspect, what should she be doing between now and the time that the baby is born? Is the father responsible for any pre-natal medical expenses, etc.? My daughter has a very limited income and is barely able to support herself and the added expense of her pregnancy. Also, at what point should she retain an attorney? Thank you very much for your assistance.


Asked on 1/27/10, 1:19 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Locksley Wade Law Office of Locksley O. Wade

There is nothing that she can do until the child is born. Once the child is born, she can file for an order of support. If the putative father denies paternity, the court will order a paternity test. If he is indeed the father then he will be ordered to pay child support.

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Answered on 2/02/10, 12:51 pm


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