Marriage: The parents are married to each other when the child is born.
Acknowledgement of Paternity: The unmarried couple signs a legal document in the hospital when the child is born, or later.
Administrative Order Based on Genetic Testing: Paternity is ordered if a genetic test proves fatherhood.
Court Order: A judge enters a final judgment of paternity.
Legitimation: The mother and natural father get married to each other after the child is born and update the birth record through the Florida Office of Vital Statistics. If the mother is not married when the child is born, but later marries the child’s father, the law presumes the husband to be the child’s legal father. When this happens, the father’s name is not automatically added to the child’s birth certificate. To add the father’s name to their child’s birth certificate, the parents must send two documents to the Florida Office of Vital Statistics: