Fathers play a vital role in the development of children, and this is one of the key factors courts consider when making decisions about child custody and co-parenting. In the ideal world, both parents can work together for the best interests of the child. Yet, that is not always what happens.
June is Fatherhood Awareness Month in Georgia. This makes now the ideal time to consider the rights of fathers and, when necessary, support those who require resources to help them play an active role in their children's lives. At Attorney Sharon Jackson, LLC, we are here to help you with father’s rights and whenever you need it.
Fatherhood Awareness Month in Georgia is an opportunity for not just fathers, but entire families, to recognize the contributions and benefits that fathers bring to the lives of their children. They guide, lead, support, and love their children, and should receive equal support in playing an active role in a child’s life.
In Georgia, family courts are very much in favor of a balanced relationship between mother and father. The court does not favor one parent over the other just because a person is the mother or father. Rather, the focus is, instead, on ensuring that the child is given equal support by both parents. Georgia works to promote responsible fatherhood and support services for dads to achieve these goals.
As a divorce, family law and fathers’ rights lawyer in Lawrenceville, GA, we know that it is, beyond a doubt, critical for children to have the opportunity to build a relationship with their father. Consider some aspects of a father’s rights under Georgia law.
Georgia supports legitimation through the law. That means that a father who is not married to the mother has equal rights to a married father. This process includes a voluntary acknowledgement that is signed prior to the child’s first birthday or by filing a claim in court when a mother refuses.
A DNA test may be used to determine the biological father in situations where there is a dispute of paternity. The court may order it, or fathers may elect to do it.
This process can be critical. Under the law, a child born out of wedlock is not legitimate, meaning that the father does not automatically have parental rights. For that reason, it is critical for fathers to understand their rights to proving paternity and gaining rights to their child
A father’s rights are valuable to the child and the father. If your child was born outside of wedlock, whether the mother was married to someone else at the time or not, seeking paternal rights can be very valuable. When you establish a father’s rights, you benefit in numerous ways:
If you do not have the rights you should, it is time to speak to our legal team about the Georgia legitimation process. Unmarried fathers' legal rights in GA are available to you if you go about pursuing them. We can help.
It is not uncommon for fathers to see these challenges as obstacles that limit their ability to establish a relationship with their child. Without establishing child custody for dads in Georgia, fathers do not automatically have the right to their child. Some of the most common legal challenges they face include:
Georgia courts decide custody based on what is in the best interests of the child. This includes several factors that need to be taken into consideration. Once you establish paternity of the child, it is then essential that you demonstrate that the child should have a relationship with you. Unless there is some reason for a court to decide against you, fathers are given fair and equal treatment to their child.
We encourage you to reach out to our experienced, compassionate legitimation and fathers’ rights lawyer in Lawrenceville, GA, for the legal support you need. However, there are community resources available to you, and we encourage you to actively seek that support.
One of the best local resources available is the Fatherhood Program, a state-based initiative designed to help noncustodial parents avoid appearing in court to seek assistance. It is an employment-based service that helps noncustodial parents achieve self-sufficiency. It also helps to increase emotional, parental, and financial involvement in their child’s life.
We encourage you to seek out a consultation with our legal team as well. Our attorneys can help you navigate the challenges you are facing, including:
During Fatherhood Awareness Month in Georgia, it is the ideal time to consider your rights under the state’s laws regarding your child and what legal options you have when you need to make changes.
As a father, you have rights. Our legal team can help you maintain them. Take the legal steps necessary to protect your relationship with your children. Contact Attorney Sharon Jackson LLC now to learn more about what we can do to support you. Do not assume that you cannot play an active role in your child’s life.
To schedule an initial consultation, call our office today at (678) 436-3636 to discuss your case with an experienced father’s rights lawyer.
Attorney Sharon Jackson LLC
175 Langley Drive, Suite A1
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Phone: (678) 909-4100
