Unmarried fathers in Florida often feel unsure about where they stand legally—especially when it comes to custody, time-sharing, and decision-making for their children. In this episode of When Split Happens, Jay Henderlite, a Jacksonville family law attorney with Sasso Guerrero & Henderlite, breaks down what rights unmarried fathers do—and do not—have under Florida law.

Jay explains why fathers do not automatically receive parental rights at birth when the parents are unmarried, and why establishing paternity is the critical first step. Without paternity, a father has no enforceable right to custody, visitation, or involvement in major decisions. Once paternity is l ...