Florida*

Chapter 63, particularly 63.053-054 Florida StatutesATTN: Putative father registry. Office of Vital Statistics; P.O. Box 210; Jacksonville, FL 32231 Tel: 904-359-6900 ext. 1086YesClaim Form ($9.00 fee). Update Claim Form (no fee for updating info). Search Form ($9.00 fee). A father will receive a letter of confirmation if he needs a certified registry result (for his own claim). The father would then need to request the search. Forms can be found at the state's web site.

Florida's registry laws are extremely hostile. The registry is not truly a putative father registry because it requires a claim of paternity (as opposed to a statement that one may be a father) under oath even where the father lacks knowledge of a pregnancy. Also, one must register before the adoption petition is filed, which can be as early as the third day after birth. Moreover, even a father who is listed on the birth certificate, attended the birth, and has lived with and supported the mother has no rights unless he registers (unless the child is six months or more old). In addition, the registry must be advertised, which from all appearances is hardly being done. Like Utah's statutory scheme, Florida's registry is truly meant to eliminate the father mom doesn't want.

*An asterisk (*) means that the state, by statute, regards a putative father’s ignorance of the pregnancy or the birth as no excuse for not registering with the putative father registry. Other states may imply similar theory through their case law, even if the statutes do not mention it.

Return to the National Directory of Putative Father Registries.