Fort Worth, TX Fathers' Rights Lawyer

Compassionate Advocate for Fathers' Rights in Fort Worth, TX

In the past, fathers did not always receive equal treatment in court when it came to child custody cases. Mothers used to be heavily favored, and they were almost automatically given primary custody. Fathers often used to be left with occasional visitation. Today, fathers have the right to be treated equally in child custody matters. Many fathers now receive primary custody or the same amount of parenting time as the mother. However, there is still some degree of bias. If you are a father going through a child custody dispute, it is critical to be represented by an experienced fathers' rights lawyer.

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. is dedicated to protecting the parental rights of fathers. Whether you are divorcing your child's mother or initiating a paternity case, Mr. Clark will fight to protect your relationship with your children. He fully understands the importance of fatherhood and how beneficial having a present father can be for children.

Asserting Fathers' Rights for Unmarried Parents

If you were not married to your child's mother when your child was born, you might need to establish legal paternity before you can fight for time with your child and decision-making rights. There are several ways to establish paternity in Texas, including:

• Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity - If the mother is willing to have you declared the legal father of your child, signing a VAP is usually the easiest way to make it official. A VAP can be signed at the hospital when your child is born, or you and the mother can complete this form at a later time.
• Initiating a paternity case - If the mother is not willing to sign a VAP, you can initiate a court case with an attorney's help. In many cases, when an official case is started, the mother will not contest the case. She will either fail to appear and you will automatically be declared the father, or she will appear and admit that you are the father.
• Contested paternity litigation - If the mother still refuses to declare that you are the father of your child, the court can order a DNA test. If the DNA test shows that you are the father, the court will declare you a legal parent over the mother's objections. Courts often look disfavorably on mothers who go this route, which may give you a slight advantage when you pursue joint or sole custody.

Our team is experienced in helping fathers become legal parents to their children, whether or not the mother agrees.

Fathers Have the Right to Be Treated Equally in Child Custody Matters

Courts make decisions about child custody based on what is in the best interest of the child. A judge will consider a number of factors set out by Texas state law without gender bias. Rather than assuming that a mother is or should be a child's primary caregiver, the court will carefully consider how each factor applies to each parent and their children.

A guardian ad litem will likely become involved. The guardian ad litem's role is to advocate for the child's best interests. They will interview the child and observe each parent's relationship with them in order to help the court understand what arrangement would be best for the child.

Contact a Fort Worth Fathers' Rights Attorney

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. is dedicated to protecting the rights of fathers who are involved in child custody cases. Mr. Clark is highly experienced in ensuring that fathers are treated equally in child custody matters. He is often able to win equal or joint custody for fathers who are getting divorced or separating from their child's mother. Contact us at 817-348-6723 for a complimentary initial consultation.