A father’s role in their child’s life is just as important as that of their mother. Fortunately for dads across Kansas, state courts have gotten much better over the past several decades at treating both parents equally in all matters related to custody and childcare. However, it can still sometimes be difficult to enforce your rights as your child’s father in practice, especially if you try to handle a complicated child support or parenting time case without support from a legal professional.
A Manhattan father’s rights lawyer could be the ally you need to effectively protect your legal rights and your relationship with your child. From start to finish of whatever legal proceedings you find yourself dealing with, a dedicated family attorney could work diligently to pursue a fair and positive outcome that optimally serves your and your child’s interests.
Pursuing and Enforcing Custody Rights
By the letter of the law, state family courts should make no presumptions in advance about whether a child’s mother or father would be better suited for primary custody of the child after a divorce or separation. While there are various factors courts may take into consideration, the ideal outcome is generally for each parent to have equal legal custody rights—meaning equal rights to make decisions regarding how their child is raised—and an equitable split of physical custody or visitation rights.
In practice, though, fathers sometimes get the short end of the stick during these kinds of proceedings due to long-standing stereotypes about gender roles in childrearing. Because of that, it can be crucial to have help from a seasoned Manhattan father’s rights attorney when pursuing a preferred custody arrangement and emphasizing that a particular father is emotionally, financially, and logistically capable of providing the best possible care for their child.
Support from legal counsel can also be key to maintaining an existing custody order despite opposition from a child’s other parent. For example, if a child’s mother wants to move out of the state and take their child with them, the child’s father may need to formally contest the mother’s relocation petition to keep an existing custody arrangement in place.
Regardless of custody rights or lack thereof, both fathers and mothers have a legal obligation to provide for their children financially. This often means child support payments mandated by a court order following a divorce, separation, or paternity hearing. While anyone subject to such an order is required by law to comply with the court’s directives, fathers also have a right to a fair support order. These orders can ensure that unfair requirements are not imposed on fathers or, as the case may be, demand fair financial contributions from the child’s other parent.
In the same vein, fathers have the right to petition for a modification to a support order if their circumstances, those of their child, or those of the other parent change so drastically that the existing order no longer serves the child’s best interests. A seasoned father’s rights lawyer in Manhattan could provide irreplaceable assistance with pursuing and enforcing an equitable arrangement in this regard.
Discuss Legal Options with a Manhattan Father’s Rights Attorney
Enforcing a father’s rights with regard to their children is unfortunately not always a simple process. Despite society-wide improvements in how the relationships between fathers and their children are perceived, there are still many situations where ensuring that fathers are treated fairly during family court proceedings requires deft and dedicated legal advocacy.
A capable Manhattan father’s rights lawyer could provide that advocacy from start to finish of whatever legal issues you find yourself grappling with. Contact us today to get started.
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