Understanding a father’s rights when you are not married is very important. A father should always stay informed about the different rights he has as a father and what steps, if any, he should take in order to exercise those rights.
When it comes to understanding a father’s rights, custody just may be one of the most important factors. In the majority of situations, the mother has sole custody of the children provided she is a fit mother and able to provide for her children. There are however some rights that allow a father to gain equal custody of the children, or at least partial custody of the children. In these cases, it is also important that the father be fit to take care of the children and there are many different factors that play into each individual situation.
If a mother is unwilling to allow the father of her child(ren) visitation, a father should seek legal help. A court order will allow a father to see his children during certain agreed upon times and places. Before this is done however, it is necessary that the court recognize you as the father of the child. The only surefire way to do this is by taking a paternity test. It also helps if your name is on the birth certificate, but in some courts that is not always enough to establish fatherhood when it comes to custody rights.
Child support is also another big issue when it comes to the rights of an unmarried father. Some fathers choose to pay child support without going through the court system, or the father voluntarily pays child support to the mother. The amount of child support paid to an unmarried mother by an unmarried father depends on many different factors. The percentage of custody that each parent held is very important. If a mother and father share equal custody of the children, it is possible that no child support will be payable by either parent. On the other hand, a parent who has main custody will likely receive some form of support if sought out through the court system. Keep in mind that it is also possible for a mother to pay the father child support if he has sole custody, but the instances of this happening are not very high.
Child support and visitation go hand in hand. If a father wants visitation or some form of joint custody of the children, it is in his best interest to pay child support. A father who is unwilling to pay child support but is still looking for visitation rights will have a lower chance of getting what he asks for if he does not pay any form of child support. Paying child support makes a father appear more responsible. It will show that he is concerned about the best interest of the children, and the courts will be more likely to cater to his requests, provided he is found to be a fit father who is going to contribute to the child’s well being through visitation, either supervised or unsupervised.
There are also some other rights that an unmarried father holds in regards to his children. Things like taking the child on trips, medical care, education, and rules regarding how the child is raised are issues that can be handled by the court system as well. If the mother wants to take a child on a trip outside of the country, for example, the mother may need to supply a notarized statement from the father stating that it is okay to do so. The same is true in the case of the father. Another example would be the right to make decisions regarding medical care. If both parents cannot agree on whether or not to get a child vaccinated, the courts will decide what is in the best interest of the child. If the court finds the mothers decision to be favorable, the court will allow her decision to stand. The same is true in the fathers situation.
There are many different issues that an unmarried father has to consider when it comes to their children’s well being. If the right course of action is taken, there are several different rights he has that will allow him to have the best possible relationship with his child, provided he follows all of the rules and does not abuse those rights.