Hudson County Father’s Rights Lawyer
As a father, you have responsibilities to your children and certain legal rights as a parent. Child custody arrangements should be based upon what is best for your children, and a family law attorney may help you pursue custody orders that are best for you and your family as well. Once retained, a Hudson County father’s rights attorney could help you fight for your rights as a parent.
Equal Rights in Custody Cases
The rights of both parents in a child custody dispute are equal as per New Jersey Revised Statutes §9:2-4. Unfortunately, many people may still assume that a mother should have custody of children after a divorce, especially if the children are young or the father was the breadwinner in the family. A dad’s rights lawyer in Hudson County may help advocate for a father during a custody case to ensure that the law is justly applied.
Custody Arrangements for the Best Interests of the Child
According to N.J.R.S. §9:2-4a, the court must consider the best interests of the child when making a custody arrangement. However, if a father works full-time, some factors in N.J.S. §9:2-4 may seem to put him at a disadvantage, such as:
- Amount of quality time spent with a child
- Stability of home environment
- Parents’ employment responsibilities
That being said, a father should not lose the opportunity to have a healthy relationship with his children because he works hard to provide financial support. Courts should consider what would be in a child’s best interests without any bias towards mothers or fathers.
A judge should treat a stay-at-home father no differently than it would a stay-at-home mother when making orders regarding custody and child support. Factors pertaining to the best interests of a child should be applied impartially, and the law encourages parents to share parental rights and responsibilities.
Protecting Fathers from Unfair Treatment
If a mom has refused parenting time between a father and his child without reason, the court should consider this behavior when making a custody award. This refusal to allow a relationship with children is sometimes called parental alienation, and courts usually find that it is not in the children’s best interests.
Fathers may face accusations of domestic abuse or mistreatment of the children, which can have significant consequences if not contested. If a child’s mother engages in poor parenting or abusive behavior or attempts to alienate the child’s father from them, a Hudson County dad’s rights attorney may be able to help protect fathers and children in these situations.
Child Support for Fathers
Child support should ensure that children receive the benefit of financial care from each parent. Many people might assume that only fathers pay child support, but this is not true. The court should calculate child support based on factors like parenting time and accurate incomes.
A Hudson County Father’s Rights Attorney Could Help
If you are facing a custody dispute, you may need to take steps to protect your rights and your child’s best interest. A Hudson County father’s rights lawyer may be able to help protect those parental rights in court. Call today to speak with an experienced legal advocate.