Paternity And Fathers’ Rights Attorney In Kansas
Being a father is a difficult job in Prairie Village. It’s a difficult job anywhere in Kansas, really, but the hardest part is being a father without the right to contribute or see your kids. Unmarried fathers all across Kansas deserve to be in the lives of their kids, and you can get help in that. You can turn to family law attorney Eric Morrison at Morrison Law, LLC, for help and answers when you need them.
How Is Paternity Legally Established?
If you have a child with someone you are not married with, in order to secure your rights as a father you must establish paternity. The first, and simplest, method to establish paternity is to be listed on the child’s birth certificate. This is simple if you were married at the time of the birth, if the mother agrees or you were married.
However, if you were not married and the mother is resistant to your having any sort of parental rights, you can take other steps in pursuing a parentage petition. In parentage, the court is involved and they may order DNA testing to discover the veracity of your claim as a biological father. If this test proves you correct, the court can award you equal parenting rights.
What Rights Does A Father Have In A Custody Case?
If you are a father with biological father rights to the child, you have every right to pursue an equal custody agreement. There is no assumption that one parent deserves full custody over the other under Kansas law. However, you will have to prove that a joint custody arrangement involving you is in the child’s best interests.
There can be several barriers to this, especially if the revelation of your biological rights is relatively late in the child’s life. However, if you can prove that your involvement would be a benefit, then you can be granted considerable visitation and potential a full parenting plan.
Can An Unmarried Father Get Custody Or Visitation Rights?
Yes. An unmarried father simply has to prove in the court to the judge that joint or even full custody of the child is in the child’s best interests. This can make the most sense if there are concerns about the child’s current living situation, such as safety or abuse.
However, after a certain age, the child’s preference can carry a considerable amount of weight in these proceedings.
Get The Representation You Deserve
Fathers’ rights are a complicated area of the law that often get a somewhat negative connotation in the public sphere. But being a father is different today than it has ever been before. Men who want to be dads, who want to have the rights and responsibilities of a father, deserve to be heard out and represented. Attorney Eric Morrison is here for you.
Reach out today to learn more by calling 913-232-2480 or sending an email using this online form.