Fatherhood is one of life’s many blessings. Unfortunately, fathers are routinely deceived into caring for a child that is not theirs or prevented from enjoying a full and necessary relationship with their children. Fathers who struggle with gaining equal parental rights or those who feel they are being unjustly roped into forcefully paying child support for an illegitimate child could benefit from having skilled legal representation.
Whether you are unmarried but have a child with someone or are unsure if you are a child’s biological father, you should seek legal help from experienced Hamilton paternity lawyers from The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm if you are looking to establish paternity rights. With 24-hour availability, you may contact our family lawyers to discuss your case at any time.
Fathers’ rights issues often fall into three broad categories. These include:
These scenarios are different and often require peculiar approaches. For instance, in cases involving children born from an affair, women often attempt to get men to assume responsibility for the child and pay child support during a divorce proceeding.
While a partner is free to assert their parental rights, if they suspect or know that the child is not theirs and are unwilling to shoulder that responsibility, they may seek the help of a lawyer and file a paternity fraud case with the Hamilton courts. The goal of this filing is to cancel all child support and excuse them from further parental duties to the child.
However, a paternity fraud filing does not guarantee they will be automatically recused from child support obligations, as the court will always prioritize the child’s best interests. This is men who are victims of paternity fraud need legal representation from our experienced lawyers to fight these kinds of issues.
Parental alienation occurs when a father is prevented or restricted from asserting their parental rights by their co-parent. In many instances, they may not even be aware that they have a child with the person with whom they were involved. As a result, this often means children suffer from a lack of or limited contact with their father.
Fathers who want the rights to custody or visitation can attempt to establish their parental rights via a court order or DNA testing, even if their name is not listed in the birth certificate as the child’s father. Canada’s laws grant both parents the right to access and have parenting time with their child, provide for them financially, and make decisions on their behalf. Our Hamilton lawyers could assist in establishing paternity and gaining access to your children.
It is possible, particularly in a case involving marital dissolution between couples with blended families, for a father acting in loco parentis to seek increased custody or access to a non-biological child that they have cared for and nurtured for an extended period of time.
If they prefer to be rid of the responsibility of caring for a child that is not their own, they can approach the court to seek a withdrawal of all legal and financial obligations they once carried out. Our Hamilton lawyers could assist with paternity and parent rights issues regardless of whether you are seeking parenting time or attempting to divest yourself from a former partner and their children.
Every paternity case is unique and can be complex, depending on the specifics of your circumstances. However, with the right Hamilton paternity lawyer, you could easily get a fair outcome that helps establish, deny, or protect your paternity rights in the process. At The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm, we work with you to figure out a solution that you will be happy with. Contact us to schedule a consult today.
The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm
