Protecting the rights of an unmarried Father when disputes arise about child custody is more important now than ever before. According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41.2 percent of births in Pennsylvania are to unmarried mothers. The law recognizes the parental rights of the mother and father when a child is born to a married couple. If the parents are not married, the first step to protecting the father’s rights is to establish paternity.Establishing the parental relationship

Proving paternity means establishing that a man is a child’s biological father. If the parents are on good terms, it can be done voluntarily with the mother and father signing a form acknowledging paternity. Once it is filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, the father has all of the legal rights of a biological parent, including the right to petition for child custody.

Paternity can also be established through a court action. Either the mother or the father can begin the proceeding by filing a petition. Unless the parties agree to paternity, a judge orders a DNA test to determine if the individual is the biological father of the child. The proceedings conclude with an order of paternity.

Custody rights of an unmarried father

Once paternity has been established, an Unmarried Father may petition a court for child custody. The guiding principle in child custody proceedings is the best interest of the child, so Pennsylvania law provides guidelines for judges to take into consideration when awarding custody.

A child custody attorney can help

Establishing your rights as an unmarried father can be a challenge. The child custody and family law attorneys at the Charles Law Offices in Allentown have the experience and knowledge to provide trusted advice and representation to guide you through the process.