Where questions about father custody rights are concerned, it is important to remember that a couple did not have to be married for the biological father to have legal rights. Regardless of marital status between parents, a father has custody rights according to their state's laws. To pursue custody or visitation during divorce proceedings or after a split with the mother, a man should make arrangements with a qualified attorney and discuss the situation. Each state views custody in a different way and unwed couples will have a few documents and hearings to deal with that a married couple will not. Custody is usually viewed in two ways - as "joint" or "sole" custody. Joint custody recognizes that both parents will work together to make major decisions about the child's life. Sole custody decisions imply that one parent is to have exclusive rights to such decisions, while the other may be allowed a regular schedule of visitation but no real authority.