What is the statute of limitations for challenging paternity?
In Florida, the statute of limitations for challenging paternity is four years. This four-year limitation only applies to situations where a man believes he is not the biological father of a child and has not voluntarily acknowledged paternity. If a man has acknowledged that he is the father, there is no time limit to challenge paternity in Florida. In addition, the statute of limitations is extended under certain circumstances. For example, if the man claiming to be the father of the child is a minor when the legal action is filed, the statute of limitations is extended until the man turns 18 or until one year has passed, whichever comes first. Also, if a person claiming to be the father finds out about the child outside of the normal statute of limitations, that person may have an additional four years from the date of the discovery. In Florida, if a man believes he is not the father of a child and would like to challenge the paternity, the court has the power to grant a petition for paternity testing. This court-ordered DNA testing will determine the biological father of the child.
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