According to Florida case law, a father can be legally recognized without a court ordered determination of paternity. If a man acknowledges a child as his own and voluntarily provides financial support, a paternity suit is not required to establish fatherhood.
See: In Re Guardianship of D.A.McW, 429 So.2d 699 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983). From the case:
We first address whether the relationship under consideration could be deemed a “family in law” for purposes of homestead. Although there has been no judicial determination of paternity, it is undisputed that the appellant is the child’s natural father. A father may achieve the goals of the paternity statute by acknowledging the child as his own and by voluntarily providing financial support. Kendrick v. Everheart, 390 So.2d 53 (Fla.1980). A paternity suit is not required to establish fatherhood.
Related
- Paternity Lawsuit in Florida – Filing a Case (or Defending)
- Court-Ordered Paternity in Florida – DNA Testing Explained
- Can men be recognized as fathers without legal proceedings?
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