As a father going through the divorce process, you may have some serious concerns about your future relationship with your child.
For many years, it’s been believed that mothers are almost always awarded full custody. While this can happen, there is no reason to believe it has to. Instead, there are steps you can take to put yourself in position to get full custody.
Upfront, you need to know that most courts prefer if both parents share custody, as this is typically in the best interests of the child. However, there are times when it makes sense for a father to have full custody. The court will consider the following details when deciding which parent should gain full custody:
- Paternity: A father interested in full custody of a child must have established paternity, such as by signing the birth certificate.
- The father’s current relationship with the child: A family law judge will want to better understand the relationship between the father and child before awarding full custody.
- The relationship between the child and his or her mother: The court will also want to learn about the relationship between child and mother, giving them a better idea of whether or not full custody makes sense.
Even if you’re fighting for full custody, don’t lost sight of the fact that the court will typically provide visitation rights to the mother.
It may sound like a big challenge, but you may be able to get full custody of your child as a father. Knowing which steps to take and how to protect your legal rights are good places to start.
Source: Very well, “Fathers Can Still Get Full Custody of Their Children,” Debrina Washington, accessed May 18, 2018