Fathers' Rights Lawyer on Long Island

Championing Fathers' Rights in Child Custody and Visitation on Long Island

There are cases in which fathers' rights are violated, whether in child custody, visitation, or a dispute over paternity. At our firm, Jonathan E. Kroll & Associates, PLLC, we are zealous advocates for fathers' rights, and we urge you to get in touch with our Long Island fathers' rights attorney if you have a legal matter regarding your parental rights pending.

Unmarried fathers formerly had a great challenge in gaining access to their children. Unwed fathers who want to be involved in their children's lives still can have difficulty, and may be forced to take a paternity test to prove that they have the right to play a role in the upbringing of children. There are two ways that paternity could be established. One is when the father voluntarily signs an Acknowledgement of Paternity form, and the other is by petitioning the court to determine paternity.

Advantages of Legal Paternity for Fathers on Long Island

The establishment of paternity can have great benefits to those fathers who want to be involved in the raising of a child born out of wedlock. This process allows for the legal establishment of parental rights, having the father's name on the child's birth certificate, the right to court ordered custody and visitation, and the right to have a say should the mother choose to put the child up for adoption.

If the paternity of the child is in question, the court can order the mother, child, and father to submit to DNA testing to determine parentage. If the alleged father is found to be the biological father of the child, an "order of filiation" is filed declaring the man to be the father of the child. Either parent can then pursue legal matters such as custody, visitation, and support. These are all very important matters and should be addressed as early as possible after the birth of the child.

Securing Fathers' Rights During Divorce Proceedings on Long Island

At one time, the court system was much more likely to grant custody to the mother in a divorce. Times have changed, and there is no difference in parental rights between mother and father. This doesn't mean that the natural bias towards a mother has completely been dispelled; your family law attorney must take the right actions to ensure your right to fair treatment as a father of children is upheld throughout every step of the divorce process. If you are the parent that played a larger role in the upbringing of your children, the court could allow for your children to live the majority of the time with you, with visitation rights granted to the mother.