HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 663 Establishment of Paternity
SPONSOR(S): Benjamin
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1402
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Civil Justice Subcommittee 18 Y, 0 N Mathews Jones
2) Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee
3) Judiciary Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Pursuant to chapter 742, F.S., paternity may be established for a child born to an unmarried mother in multiple
ways. Paternity may be established by adjudicatory hearing, by voluntary acknowledgement, or by the
Department of Revenue. Additionally, paternity may be established by court order in response to a Petition to
Establish Paternity. Pursuant to s. 742.011, F.S., following the birth of a child, a parent may request a
determination of parental responsibility and child support for the creation of a parenting plan and timesharing
schedule pursuant to ch. 61. As such, an unwed father is able to request a determination of his parental rights
and responsibilities and is subject to the rights and responsibilities a married father would enjoy in the same
situation.
Historically, courts in Florida have deferred to the stability and consistency of an intact family unit rather than
identify a separate biological father outside of the mother’s marriage. However, over time and through
advances in science and genetic testing, the issue of a biological father versus a legal father has become more
prevalent. Notably, the Supreme Court of Florida held in Simmonds v. Perkins, that a biological father who has
shown a substantial and continuing concern for the welfare of the child retains standing to challenge the
presumption of legitimacy of the legal father.
HB 663 creates s. 742.092, F.S., to provide the process by which an alleged biological father may rebut the
presumption of legitimacy of the mother’s husband and seek to establish the rights, responsibilities, and
obligations as the child’s actual biological father. The bill provides a presumption that a man is presumed to be
the child’s legal father if he was married to the mother at the time of conception or birth, or if parentage has
otherwise been established under statute. The bill identifies the process by which an alleged biological father
may rebut the presumption by filing a petition to determine paternity with the circuit court. Under the bill, the
court must keep the best interests of the child at the forefront of any determination. As such, the bill authorizes
the court, after receiving testimony and evidence from each party, to:
Deny the petition and maintain the mother’s husband as the child’s legal father;
Terminate parental rights of the mother’s husband and substitute the actual biological father on the
child’s birth certificate; or
Maintain the mother’s husband’s status as the legal father while also acknowledging the biological
father as a third legal parent.
The bill provides for the establishment, adoption, and modification of a parenting plan, including timesharing
and child support, to be shared among all legal parents.
The bill does not appear to have a fiscal impact on state or local governments.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Florida has a long history of placing importance on a child’s legitimacy, and the common law has
upheld that tenet, often giving deference to a legal father over a biological father to ensure the child’s
legitimacy. The presumption of legitimacy primarily protected a child’s need for a family unit,1 and
sought to ensure that a child benefitted from such and the consistency that accompanies it, sometimes
to the detriment of the biological father. Historically, courts in Florida have deferred to the stability and
consistency of an intact family unit rather than identify a separate biological father outside of the
mother’s marriage.2 However, over time and through advances in science and genetic testing, the issue
of a biological father versus a legal father has become more prevalent. Notably, the Supreme Court of
Florida held in Simmonds v. Perkins, that a biological father who has shown a substantial and
continuing concern for the welfare of the child retains standing to challenge the presumption of
legitimacy in favor of the legal father.3
Establishment of Paternity
Pursuant to chapter 742, F.S., paternity may be established for a child born to an unmarried mother in
multiple ways. Paternity may be established by adjudicatory hearing, by voluntary acknowledgement, or
by the Department of Revenue.4 Additionally, paternity may be established by court order in response
to a Petition to Establish Paternity. Pursuant to s. 742.011, F.S., following the birth of a child, a parent
may request a determination of parental responsibility and child support for the creation of a parenting
plan and timesharing schedule pursuant to ch. 61. As such, an unwed father is able to request a
determination of his parental rights and responsibilities and is subject to the rights and responsibilities a
married father would enjoy in the same situation.
Adjudicatory Hearing
If paternity has been raised and determined as a matter of law within an adjudicatory hearing brought
under the statutes governing inheritance, or dependency under workers’ compensation or a similar
compensation program, such adjudication establishes the paternity of the father. 5 When paternity is
established through an adjudicatory hearing, the court is not required to establish parental
responsibilities or a timesharing schedule.
Affidavit or Voluntary Acknowledgment
Paternity may also be established by agreement. Both parents may agree and sign an affidavit of
voluntary acknowledgement of paternity under oath in the presence of a notary or under oath in the
presence of two witnesses.6 Under this scenario, a rebuttable presumption of paternity is established
and a sixty-day revocation period is triggered. During the sixty-day revocation period, either the mother
or the alleged father may rescind the acknowledgement of paternity.7 After the sixty day period, a
signed voluntary acknowledgement of paternity constitutes an establishment of paternity and may only
be challenged in court on the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact. 8 Alternatively, paternity
1 Chris W. Altenbernd, Quasi-Marital Children: The Common Law’s Failure in Privette and Danial Calls for Statutory Reform , 26 Fla. St.
U. L. Rev. 219, 274 (Winter 1999).
2 See Dept. of Health and Rehab . Services v. Privette, 617 So. 2d 305 (Fla. 1993); C.G. v. J.R. and J.R., 130 So. 3d 776 (Fla. 2d DCA
2014), .
3 Simmonds v. Perkins, 247 So. 3d 397 (Fla. 2018).
4 A request for timesharing or visitation may not be filed in a DOR action for paternity. See s. 409.2564, F.S.
5 S. 742.10, F.S.
6 Id.
7 S. 742.10(1), F.S.
8 S. 742.10(4), F.S.
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may be established by both parents executing an affidavit of paternity or a stipulation of paternity and
filing it with the clerk of court.9 If both parents sign the affidavit or stipulation of paternity and file it with
the clerk of court, paternity is deemed to be established at the time the affidavit is filed.
Department of Revenue
If no acknowledgement or affidavit is completed, paternity may be established by the Department of
Revenue pursuant to s. 409.256, F.S. The Department of Revenue (DOR) may commence a paternity
proceeding or a paternity and child support proceeding if:
Paternity has not otherwise been established;
No one is named as the father on the child’s birth certificate or the person named as the father
is the putative father named in an affidavit;
The mother was unmarried at the time of the child’s conception and birth; or
DOR is providing services under Title IV-D.10
DOR also has the statutory authority under s. 409.2563, F.S., to commence an administrative
proceeding to establish child support obligations.11
Court Order
Section 742.011, F.S., permits any woman who is pregnant or has a child, any man who has reason to
believe that he is the father of a child, or any child, to bring proceedings in court to determine the
paternity of the child when paternity has not been established by law or otherwise. Section 742.031,
F.S., requires the court to conduct a hearing on the complaint and establish paternity if the court finds
the alleged father is the father of the child. Upon a determination of paternity, the court must decide on
the responsibility of each parent to support the child by calculating child support.12 In a matter brought
under ch. 742, F.S., a parent may request a determination of parental responsibility and child support
and for the creation of a parenting plan and time-sharing schedule pursuant to ch. 61, F.S.
The parents jointly are the natural guardians of their own children. 13 However, if a father has not
established paternity under s. 742.011 or s. 742.10(1), F.S., the mother of a child born out of wedlock is
the natural guardian of the child and is entitled to primary residential care and custody of the child
unless the court enters an order stating otherwise.14 If an order establishing paternity only includes a
child support award and does not provide a parenting plan or timesharing schedule, the parent
receiving the child support (obligee) is deemed to have all of the timesharing and sole parental
responsibility without prejudice to the other parent (obligor). 15 An action brought in court to establish
paternity must include the determination of parental responsibility and a parenting plan, and must
establish a timesharing schedule and child support. 16
Effect of Proposed Changes
HB 663 creates s. 742.092, F.S., providing for a presumption that a man who was married to the child’s
mother at the time of conception or birth is the child’s legal father. The bill also provides a presumption
that a man is the child’s legal father if paternity has been legally established. The bill provides that the
child, the child’s biological mother, or a man who has a reasonable and well-founded belief that he is
the child’s biological father may rebut the presumption of the legal father’s paternity by filing a petition
in circuit court. The petition to determine the paternity of the child must:
Be signed by the petitioner under oath;
9 S. 742.10(1), F.S.
10 S. 409.256(2), F.S.
11 S. 409.2563, F.S.
12
S. 742.031(1), F.S.
13 S. 744.301(1), F.S.
14 S. 744.301(1), F.S.
15 S. 742.031(2), F.S.
16 S. 742.10, F.S.
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Identify as parties the child’s biological mother, the child’s legal father, the child’s alleged
biological father, and any other person who may be the child’s legal parent; and
Allege specific facts to support a claim that:
o The alleged biological father is the child’s actual biological father;
o The alleged biological father has manifested a substantial and continuing concern for the
welfare of the child; and
o It is in the best interests of the child to establish the alleged biological father as a legal
parent of the child.
Under the bill, the court must appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the child unless good cause is shown
that a GAL is not necessary to protect the best interests of the child. A GAL acting within the scope of his
or her powers and authorities as provided under s. 61.403, F.S., is immune from liability as provided under
s. 61.405, F.S. Alternatively, if the court determines that the subject child is old enough and mature enough
to participate in the proceedings, the court must appoint an attorney ad litem (AAL) for the child in lieu of a
GAL, unless the court finds good cause that an AAL is not necessary to protect the best interests of the
child.
Once a petition to determine paternity has been filed with the court, the court must hold an evidentiary
hearing on the petition. During the hearing, the petitioner has the burden of producing clear and convincing
evidence that:
The alleged biological father has manifested a substantial and continuing concern for the welfare of
the child; and
The best interests of the child would be served by allowing the petition to proceed.
Pursuant to the bill, the court must consider all of the following factors in making its determination on
whether to allow the petition to proceed:
Whether the biological mother is deceased or incapacitated.
Whether the biological mother is seeking or has obtained a dissolution of her marriage to the
presumed legal father.
Whether the legal father seeks to maintain his presumed status as the legal father of the child.
If the court finds that the alleged biological father has not manifested the requisite substantial and
continuing concern for the welfare of the child or that it is not in the child’s best interests to allow the
petition to proceed, the court must dismiss the petition with prejudice and seal the court file.
However, if the court deems the petition sufficient to proceed, then the child and alleged biological father
must both submit to genetic testing by a qualified technical laboratory. The alleged biological father must
file the genetic test results with the court within 15 days after he receives the results from the laboratory.
Such results are admissible as evidence and must be weighed along with any other evidence of parentage
of the alleged biological father unless the statistical probability of parentage is 95% or greater. A statistical
probability of parentage of 95% or more creates a rebuttable presumption that the alleged biological father
is the actual biological father of the child. Alternatively, if the genetic test results indicate that the alleged
biological father is not the actual biological father of the child, then the court must dismiss the petition and
seal the court file.
Under the bill, an objection to the genetic test results must be made in writing and filed with the court within
30 days after the test results are filed or as otherwise prescribed by the court. Upon the filing of an
objection to the results, the court must hold an evidentiary hearing wherein a party may call upon outside
experts to refute or support the test results. The court, upon the reasonable request of a party, may order
additional testing at the expense of the party requesting such.
If no objection to the genetic testing is filed, a party fails to rebut the presumption of paternity, or the
genetic testing establishes that the alleged biological father is the actual biological father, the court must
enter summary judgment of paternity and hold a trial to determine:
If the husband of the child’s biological mother should remain the sole legal father of the child based
on the best interests of the child;
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If the parentage and the legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the husband of the child’s
biological mother should be terminated and granted to the actual biological father; or
If the child’s biological mother, mother’s husband, and biological father should share the parentage
and the legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the child.
During the trial, the court must determine the best interests of the child by evaluating all of the factors
affecting the welfare and interests of the child and the family, including, but not limited to:
The established bond between the child and the biological mother’s husband.
The established bond between the child and the biological father.
The permanency and stability of the child’s current family unit, including the length of time the child
has lived in a satisfactory environment and the desirability to maintain continuity of care or to create
stability for the child.
The capacity and disposition of the biological mother’s husband and the biological father to provide
for the child’s financial needs.
The moral fitness of the biological mother’s husband and the biological father.
The mental and physical health of the biological mother’s husband and the biological father.
The home, school, and community record of the child.
The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems him or her to be of sufficient intelligence,
understanding, and expertise to express a preference.
Evidence that the biological mother’s husband or the biological father has abandoned, abused, or
neglected the child, or has otherwise been remiss in his responsibilities for the child.
Evidence that the