What legal rights does a father have in paternity law?
A father has a variety of legal rights when it comes to paternity law in California. The father can file a paternity suit to establish legal paternity, which is the recognition of the father’s parental rights and responsibilities. When paternity is established, the father is then entitled to the same custody and visitation rights as the mother, as well as the right to seek child support. The father can also file to be listed as the legal father on the child’s birth certificate. Fathers also have the right to seek custody of the child, as well as the right to seek visitation rights with the child. These rights are especially important if the mother and father are unmarried. Fathers can also seek to be named as the legal guardian of the child, and in some cases, the father can seek full legal and physical custody of the child. In the event of a divorce, father’s have the right to seek child support and alimony. If a father is unemployed or underemployed, he can seek temporary or long-term child support orders to ensure his financial obligation to the child is met. A father can also seek to have his name entered into the child’s school records, and to be consulted in any major decisions made regarding the child. Lastly, a father has the right to petition the court for a parentage order. This order legally establishes the father’s rights, which in turn ensures that the father has the same rights and responsibilities to the child as the mother. This means that the father is the legal parent regardless of his relationship with the mother.
Related FAQs
Is there a time limit for a man to contest paternity?What if the father chooses not to take a paternity test?
Can I get a court-ordered paternity test if I only have circumstantial evidence?
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