Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Paternity

Does being on a birth certificate give a father any parenting rights in Florida? According to Florida Statutes, the mother of a child born outside of wedlock is considered the natural guardian of the child and is entitled to full care, custody and control of the child until a court order is entered stating otherwise. See Fla. Stat. 744.301(1). This was an issue in the case Moritz v. Stonecipher, 4D22-2999 (Fla. 4th DCA March 15, 2023).