A lot of men in New York make the mistake of thinking that the law favors their child’s mother when it comes to custody issues. The truth is that the law is gender-neutral in that regard, but it’ll require action on your part to acquire your father’s rights. That can be daunting to think about, but there are concrete steps you can take now to get the ball rolling and to protect your rights.
Although you have rights as a father, it’s up to you to seize them. Here are steps you’ll need to take to do that:
- Establish paternity, ether by signing a paternity affidavit with the child’s mother or submitting to a DNA test and obtaining a paternity decree through the court.
- Document any involvement that you’ve had with your child so that you can establish that you have a relationship and bond with your child.
- Consider asking for mediation if you can’t hash out a favorable custody and visitation arrangement with the other parent.
- Try to be flexible with the other parent so that you can find favorable resolution.
- Highlight your earnings capacity to show that you can support your child.
- Identify witnesses who can help attest to your character, your parenting abilities and your relationship with your child.
- Gain an understanding of the law so that you know how to seek the rights to which you’re entitled.
Act now to take control of your parental rights
You can and should have a meaningful relationship with your child. But it’ll require action on your part. Even though that might be stressful to think about, you can find help navigating the legal process ahead of you. To learn more, please continue to read our blog and the rest of our website.