According to Ontario law, every parent in Toronto has the same inherent rights. There are technically no “father’s rights” or “mother’s rights,” as a person established as the father of a minor child has the same rights as a mother.
That said, many fathers are not treated fairly when it comes to decisions regarding parenting time or child support. If you are concerned about unfair treatment, a Toronto father’s rights lawyer might be able to help. Our experienced family lawyers could ensure your parental rights are protected.
The father of a child does not always have inherent rights as a parent. While married fathers enjoy these rights automatically in most cases, that is not true for unmarried fathers. An unmarried father must initially establish paternity before the court will recognize their rights.
Until a father’s paternity is verified, the court will not award custody to a father. Establishing paternity is typically done by using DNA testing. Once a DNA link is established, the court will typically enter an order establishing parental rights.
As long as paternity is established, a father has the right to seek parenting time or decision-making responsibility of their minor child. This is the case during the course of a divorce but also during a custody dispute between unmarried parents. A Toronto lawyer could help secure a father’s rights in either situation.
The custody of a minor child is often the primary concern of a father. While fathers are entitled to the same rights as mothers, the decisions made by judges do not always seem fair. It is not uncommon for judges to quietly hold a bias toward the mother. A dedicated legal professional like Paul Riley could work to ensure you are treated fairly during your case.
Another aspect of fatherhood is the obligation to support your children. This financial support is required by court order during divorce cases as well as parenting time disputes.
It is a common misconception that fathers are always responsible for child support, but that is not always the case. There are various factors the court will take into consideration when determining who is required to make support payments for a child.
A father’s rights lawyer in Toronto could advise you on the factors that will determine which parent is responsible for child support. The custody of the minor child is the most important factor. The parent with primary parenting time and decision-making responsibility will typically receive child support. Other important factors include the income of each parent as well as what is in the child’s best interests.
It is not atypical for a father to worry that the support they pay each month is not being spent on their child. While these payments are supposed to be used for the needs of the child, the other parent could attempt to use that money for their own purposes. Your committed legal professional could help ensure that does not happen in you your case.
As a father, you have a variety of rights regarding your minor children. However, there are steps you must take to enforce those rights—or you could potentially lose them forever.
A Toronto father’s rights lawyer could assist you with important issues like parenting time, decision-making responsibility, and child support. To learn more about your rights, call our firm today for a private consultation. He is available 24/7 to answer any of your questions.
Now you can have your Consultation with Paul Riley any time from the comfort of your own home. With video calls from Zoom, your Team at The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm can meet with you virtually, and learn about your case. All you need is a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop with a built-in camera and microphone.
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