A Mankato father’s rights lawyer provides dedicated legal support and family law representation to dads. This means asserting a father’s parental rights and creating a strategy to secure custody
If you have questions about your parental rights, how to establish parental rights, or how to gain or change custody, contact an experienced family law attorney. Our lawyers and support staff can explain your options and help you begin the process.
For fathers, establishing paternity is the first step in the way fathers are gaining legal rights. If a father is not on the child’s birth certificate, they do not have parental rights. A biological connection to the child must be established if the parents are not married.
Establishing paternity in Minnesota can be accomplished through a Recognition of Parentage form, which both parents voluntarily sign at the time of the child’s birth. Otherwise, DNA testing and a court order may be necessary to establish parentage and legal grounds for the father’s rights.
It is a little different if the parents are married; then Minnesota has legal presumptions in place that give both parents rights over the children that are born during the marriage.
A Mankato lawyer can help establish paternity and assert a father’s rights by guiding them through the process and advocating on their behalf.
A father’s rights and a mother’s rights are the same in Minnesota. After paternity is established, a father has the same rights to custody, visitation, and support as the mother since MN. Stat. 518.17 is gender-neutral.
Parents can have legal or physical custody of a child. This custody may be held solely or jointly. Legal custody refers to the parent’s right to make significant decisions about their child’s welfare, while physical custody refers to where a child resides.
With joint legal custody, parents share the responsibility of making decisions. If a parent has sole legal custody, that parent alone will make the decisions.
If parents have joint physical custody, they will share the physical placement of the child. The amount of parenting time and the schedule will depend on the situation and the best interest of the child. If a parent has sole physical custody, the child will live primarily with that parent.
Also known as parenting time, state law assumes that a child should have at least 25 percent parenting time with the non-custodial parent. While the child does not live long-term with the parent, a parent with visitation rights may have weekends, overnight stays, holidays, and other scheduled time with their child.
Child support is financial payments from one parent to another. These payments are court-ordered, and the amount of child support one parent pays or receives will depend on the parent’s income and the amount of time designated to each parent.
A father’s rights attorney in Mankato can help fathers understand their rights and responsibilities and negotiate custody or child support arrangements.
If a father has been accused of abusive or poor behavior, it is critical to defend against these allegations. False claims can harm their relationship with their children and impact their right to see them.
Gathering evidence to support a father’s fitness and innocence of the allegations is crucial. Maintaining professionalism and maturity is also important when defending against these claims. This may be challenging, but legal representation can prove beneficial in these situations.
A father’s rights attorney in Mankato can gather evidence to defend against these allegations. Moreover, they can present a case for fitness and assert the father’s rights to legal and physical custody or visitation.
You deserve time with your child and the ability to make important decisions about their life. If you have questions or need legal representation, a Mankato father’s rights lawyer at Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd. can help. Our skilled family attorneys can explain your rights and determine the most effective approach for your case.
Whether you need help establishing paternity, asserting your rights, or altering a parenting plan, we are ready to assist you. Contact us today to learn more about father’s rights and your legal options.
