Consider Marriage
In some situations, it may be in your best interests to get married before the baby’s born, especially if you are already committed to the mother and you both want to be involved in the baby’s life. Marriage will likely be the most effective way to ensure that your rights to the child are protected. However, there may be some cases where it is not a good idea to get married. For example, you should not get married for the sake of ensuring your rights to the baby. There are many ways for fathers to make sure that they’re able to be involved in the child’s life; it isn’t necessary to marry someone you’ve just met or aren’t comfortable with marrying. It should also be noted that, while research does indicate that living with both biological parents has a positive impact on a child’s life, it’s not imperative. Many children have happy childhoods despite having divorced or never-married parents. Marriage is a big decision and there will likely be serious consequences if you marry the wrong person. It is not necessary to get married just because you get someone pregnant; there are many ways to be involved in the child’s life without jumping into a marriage you aren’t ready for or do not feel confident in.
Know the Laws in Your State
It’s important to know the laws in your state, especially if you’ve decided not to marry the woman who’s carrying your child. Different states have different laws that can open up a world full of loopholes. In fact, one man was stunned to find out that his ex-girlfriend had given their baby up for adoption after he’d left the hospital. She was able to do this because the father didn’t do everything necessary to prevent this. In some states, it’s not enough to sign the birth certificate or sign an acknowledgment of paternity. If you are having a child, you may want to speak with a licensed family law attorney in your state who can help you understand everything you need to do in order to prevent this from happening to you.
Show up for Court Hearings
If you are summoned to court, you need to show up. The worst thing you can do is not show up. Refusal to show up to court is another reason why many fathers receive what may be considered unfair treatment. In fact, a man was ordered to pay tens of thousands in back child support for a child that wasn’t even his. How did this happen? Well, the man never showed up for court when he was summoned to the initial hearing. If you do not show up to a court hearing, there is a chance that your ex will be granted a default judgment, meaning that they could be granted whatever the request, assuming it’s a reasonable request. Once the court has made a decision, there typically isn’t a lot of room for a reversal. If there are truly unusual circumstances that have prevented you from finding out about the court hearing and/or attending, make sure to deal with the matter as soon as you possibly can. Do not wait over a decade to do something about it. If extreme and/or unusual circumstances have prevented you from attending a hearing related to your child (or potential child), you may need the advice of an attorney to help navigate this matter moving forward.
Establish Paternity after Birth
Do not sign anything until you are certain that the child is yours. When a couple is married, there is a legal presumption that any children born during the marriage will be a product of the marriage. If you do not intend to marry the mother, it’s important that you establish paternity. You can either sign a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity or you can take a paternity test first. Depending on where you’re located, it can be very difficult to undo a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity. Therefore, you should only sign one if you are reasonably certain that you are indeed the father—you may not be able to retract that, even if a DNA test confirms you are not the father. If you are ordered to take a paternity test, you must take one.
Consider Exploring Your Options with an Attorney
If you are an expecting father and you are not married to the mother of your child, you may want to explore your options with an attorney. While fathers do not have the right to decide whether or not the mother will terminate the pregnancy, fathers generally have equal say when deciding whether or not the child will be given up for adoption. If your child is given up for adoption unbeknownst to you, it may be difficult to get your child back—although it might be possible, it’d likely be a legal battle that would cost a lot of time, money, and energy.
When You Need Legal Advice
Paternity can be a very complicated thing and the laws may vary from state to state. For this reason, if you are a father-to-be, and you want to ensure that you are as involved with your child as possible, it may be necessary to explore your options with an attorney. If you’ve decided that you need legal advice, contact CoilLaw today to schedule your initial consultation.
