If you and your co-parent never married, you may have some questions about your rights and responsibilities. Depending on your situation, you may have to take extra steps to make sure that you have a say in child custody and child support matters. A Naperville, IL family law attorney can advise you in these matters, making sure you have a voice regardless of your marital status.
At Calabrese Associates, P.C., we know just how complicated family law can be for unmarried parents. When you work with our firm, you will receive individual attention and legal advice from our solo practitioner.
Do Unmarried Fathers Have Rights?
For unmarried mothers, the law generally treats the mother as the child’s legal parent right away. For unmarried fathers, the first step is usually establishing paternity. Once paternity is established, a father can ask the court for parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and other orders that protect his relationship with his child.