Custody and Fathers Rights

Custody and Father's RightsEvery state in the United States has a presumed father statute that enables the father to claim his child if the mother becomes pregnant without his consent. The father is assumed to be the legal father of the child and thus entitled to full legal rights and responsibilities pertaining to the child.A number of states have provisions, which place an emphasis on rights of father's rights and responsibilities when it comes to the custody of a child. The father should file a formal petition with the local court in order to gain access to the child when the mother gets pregnant.The father is entitled to meet the child before deciding to file for the custody of the child. When the child and the father are ready to make the filing, the father should file a formal petition with the court for paternity, and all necessary information about the alleged father should be included in the petition.If the mother and the child's father are not married when the child is born , the mother must notify the father at least 24 hours before the child is due to be born. This allows the father time to contact the father.If a presumed father has been legally established as the father, then his rights are protected by statute. But if a presumed father has not been identified by a medical or sperm donor, then there is no statutory protection. In this case, the father will have the right to make a custody agreement that will govern any parenting time shared between him and the child.The laws and policies regarding father's rights can vary from state to state. Some states give a presumption to the father if the mother is presumed to be the child's mother.Certain conditions must be met before a father can use his rights. He must meet certain standards such as: the child's biological father and the child's mother are legally married; the child was born within 90 days prior to filing for the petition; the father is a legal citizen; and the father has lived in the count ry for a period of one year immediately preceding the filing of the petition.A court may deny a father's request for custody if he fails to meet the above requirements. If the father meets these requirements, he may ask for a custody hearing and file a paternity action against the mother.