In a criminal prosecution for a crime against a child, a final order of a court of this state or of another state that determines the paternity of the defendant to be the victim is admissible as evidence of a paternal relationship.
Fla. Stat. § 90.4025 — Admissibility of paternity determination in certain criminal prosecutions
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A Shortcut for Proving Paternity: This statute creates a specific and efficient rule for proving a defendant is the father of a child victim in certain criminal cases.
Core Principle: If a defendant is on trial for a crime against a child, and their paternal relationship to the child is a relevant fact, the prosecution can use a final court order from a paternity case to prove that relationship.
How it Works: Instead of having to re-litigate the issue of paternity in the criminal trial, this rule allows a certified copy of a final judgment from a family court or other civil court—from Florida or any other state—to be admitted as direct evidence that the defendant is the father. This saves time and relies on the determination already made by a court that specializes in such matters.
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Cite as Fla. Stat. § 90.4025 (2024)
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