Previous posts on the blog have talked about how dads in the Omaha area can go about establishing paternity. For instance, one post discussed how some dads may elect to sign what is called an acknowledgement of paternity form.
This is a good, informal option in cases where the dad has no doubts about his status as the father of the child and also has no concerns about being able to maintain a relationship with the child. However, it is important for him to remember that the acknowledgement form confers parental rights and responsibilities on him in general; it does not go in to details.
To get a detailed parenting plan and child support order, a man will have to go back to court. It may be necessary to do so if, for instance, he breaks it off with the child’s mother and now will need an order setting out his right to have a relationship with the child. This may be the case even if he has informally been involved in the child’s life for years.
Fighting for custody or liberal parenting time can be an uphill battle for men. Even though dads in theory have the same rights as moms, they still can struggle to assert those rights, particularly if there is something in their backgrounds that, despite being in the past, might suggest they are not responsible.
Our law office works hard to help dads get appropriate parenting plans and child support orders once they have established their parental rights. Often, doing so will require identifying and then interviewing witnesses who can provide evidence of the dad’s parenting skills. We can use our knowledge and experience to help a man maintain ties to the children he loves.