Father Child Custody

For a father, child custody (that is, sole physical custody) can be difficult to obtain. Despite the fact that most state laws now dictate that parents are equal in the eyes of the law, mothers are still often presumed to be the preferred primary caregiver. Fathers rarely seek physical custody which makes it unlikely that this viewpoint will change in the near future. However, joint legal custody is now the arrangement that many courts automatically grant in most cases. Unless a father has a history of abandonment or domestic violence, a petition for joint legal custody is likely to be successful. Although child custody can be a contentious issue, most mothers do not try to cut fathers out of their children's lives. The vast majority of custody agreements are reached without going through mediation or a trial. A father who has just learned of the existence of a child born out of wedlock should seek to establish paternity as the first step in seeking custody or visitation rights. Unless a father's parental rights have been terminated by the court, he will often be granted some custody rights if it can be shown that this involvement would not be harmful to his child.

Fast Facts

  • About 25% of absent fathers live in a different state than their children.
  • A father who is still married to and living with the mother of his children has equal custody rights unless a court decides otherwise.
  • In disputed cases, the court may decide which last name a child should have based on the best interests of the child.

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Articles

Results 1-5 of 433 for "father child custody"

  • Father Gaining Child Custody

    Child custody laws are supposed to protect the best interests of the child, however there are some real concer...
    • Site: childcustodylawfirms.com
  • An Overview of Child Custody Law

    Following the separation of biological parents, the future of the offspring produced by the relationship is in...
    • Site: lawfirms.com
    • 13 of 21 user(s) found this useful
  • Who Gets Custody of the Child(ren)?

    There are many factors involved when making child custody decisions. When determining the home in which to pla...
    • Site: lawfirms.com
    • 23 of 31 user(s) found this useful
  • Child Custody: Filing, Modifying and Visitation Rights

    This guide may assist in answering questions you may have regarding Child Custody and Visitation.  We encourag...
    • By: Rachael Rogers
    • Site: childcustodylawfirms.com
    • 7 of 9 user(s) found this useful
  • How a Father Can Win Child Custody

    All courts have state guidelines they must follow in allowing one parent to win child custody over the other. ...
    • Site: divorcelawfirms.com
    • 1 of 1 user(s) found this useful

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Results 1-5 of 58 for "father child custody"

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