Father’s Rights Roundup, Just in Time for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is this Sunday, so get dad a card, at least, OK?

Being a father can mean a lot of things, and every father-child relationship is unique. But what does being a dad mean legally? What are your rights? Your responsibilities? Here’s a roundup of some of our best father’s rights content, just in time for Father’s Day.

1. What Are a Father’s Rights Before Birth?

Your child might not have been born yet, but can you still have a say about the mother’s medical care or the health of the child? Generally, major decisions are left to the mother absent a substantial risk to the unborn child’s physical or mental health.

2. How Do Unmarried Fathers Establish Paternity?

What if you’re trying to prove a child is yours? State laws once defaulted to the husband as the father, but what happens if you’re not married to the mother?

3. 3 Potential Ways to Challenge Paternity Tests

The paternity sword can cut both ways, and sometimes you want to prove a child isn’t yours. Challenging lab results or the mother’s fidelity prior to pregnancy are options, as well as arguing your own sterility or infertility.

4. Newborn Visitation Rights for the Father

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Your child is born and you get to see them. But not all parental relationships are so cordial, making newborn visitation a more complicated situation. Here’s how to make sure you get to see your newborn.

5. Legal How-To: Adopting as a Stepdad

And if the child isn’t yours by birth, but you want to be their father? Adopting as a stepfather may not be easy, but it’s often worth it.

If you have more questions about your rights and responsibilities as a father, talk to an experienced family law attorney.

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Source: Law

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