What rights do unmarried fathers have with regard to child custody?

In North Carolina, unmarried fathers have parental rights but are legally treated differently from married fathers. Unmarried fathers must take extra steps to establish their legal rights to the child in order to gain access to the child in the event of a custody dispute. In North Carolina, unmarried fathers must legally establish paternity in order to be eligible to seek custody or visitation rights in a court of law. There are two ways to establish paternity in North Carolina. First, the father must sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity giving written acknowledgment that he is the father of the child. Second, the father can petition the court to establish paternity and ultimately be declared the legal father of the child. The court may grant custody rights to the father, or alternatively grant visitation rights. Generally, custody is granted to the parent who can prove that they can provide the best environment for the child’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. The court may also consider the age, maturity, and sex of the child when making a custody order. In both cases, the court will take the best interests of the child into consideration. If the unmarried father has legally established paternity, he can petition for visitation or custody in any legal proceeding. It is important to note, however, that establishing paternity does not guarantee that the father will be granted custody or visitation rights. It merely gives the father the right to petition the court for these rights.

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What rights do unmarried fathers have with regard to child custody?

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