Father’s Right’s Attorney in Fountain Valley CA

Protect your rights by working with a father’s rights attorney in Fountain Valley CA

It wasn’t long ago that when a man and woman split up, it was almost guaranteed that the woman would get custody of the children. The best the man could hope for was visitation or partial custody. Fortunately, this is not the world we live in today. Today, the courts in California are legally required to decide custody and other child issues based on what’s best for the child in question. Learn more and then reach out to a father’s rights attorney in Fountain Valley CA.

How to establish paternity without a father’s rights attorney in Fountain Valley CA

In some cases, the law will assume the paternity of a child. For example, if a husband and wife are married when the baby is born and if the child is born to a woman who has been living with a man in a family-like manner and that man has shown commitment to the child. Absent either of these two situations, paternity must be established.

The easiest way in most cases involves both parents signing a “voluntary declaration of paternity.” If the child is born in a hospital, the nurses will provide the form to the mother and alleged father. When they sign the form, they are both acknowledging that they are the parents of the child and the father’s name is then added to the birth certificate. The father also has every right and responsibility for that child.

How to establish paternity with a father’s rights attorney in Fountain Valley CA

If the easier methods of establishing paternity aren’t relevant to your case, then you’ll want to contact a father’s rights attorney in Fountain Valley CA. The law allows a person with any of the following relationships to ask for a paternity order:

  • The mother
  • Any man who has reason to believe he’s the father
  • Any man who’s been named as a potential father
  • Adoption agencies the mother is working with
  • Child support agencies the mother is working with

When the child in question is under 12 years old then they are likely to not be a considered a party in the case, but will be if they’re older than 12. In either case, the court will assign a “guardian ad litem,” who has one job: Representing the rights and best interests of the child in question. The judge can require the potential father to get genetic testing. The father can refuse, but the judge can then take that as an admission of paternity.

The non-custodial parent is potentially responsible for a variety of things

If you’re a father who wants custody of your child, then Law Office of Michael L. Fell is here to help. If you’re a father who has custody but needs help obtaining child support, medical costs, etc. for your child, then we can help. If you’re a man who’s accused of being a father and you want to find out what your options are, then talking to a father’s right attorney in Fountain Valley CA is a good idea.

We believe that every father has the exact same rights as the mother. If you’re a father who isn’t getting fair access to your child, or you’re worried that you won’t in the future, then it’s time to contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at 949-585-9055 for your free legal consultation.