If you are an unmarried person, seeking child custody and visitation rights can come with unique challenges. Unmarried parents do not automatically share legal rights over their children, so there are often additional steps to take to establish custody arrangements.
Step 1: Establishing Paternity
Establishing paternity is the first important step for unmarried fathers. Without paternity established, a father has no legal rights to custody or visitation. This can be done voluntarily if both parents agree or through a court-ordered test if needed. Once paternity is confirmed, fathers can seek custody or visitation.
Custody and Visitation
Courts decide custody based on the child’s needs, each parent’s ability to provide a stable home, and the current relationship with each parent. Unmarried parents often have to file a custody case to get formal custody and visitation rights. Both legal custody, decision-making authority, and physical custody, where the child lives, can be awarded to one or both parents.
Unique Challenges for Unmarried Parents
Unmarried parents may face added challenges such as needing to prove paternity, ensuring fair custody without the rights given in marriage, and addressing any disputes over child support or visitation. If one parent disputes the other’s fitness, the case can become even more complex, making it important to have solid evidence of each parent’s role and commitment to the child.
Getting Legal Help
The attorneys at Kranitz, Sadoun & Carpenter, PC specialize in family law and can guide you through the custody process. We can help protect your relationship with your child and ensure that your parental rights are upheld.
Reach out to our team today to learn more about how we can support you in your case.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺.