Child custody laws hav undergone a significant transformation, shifting away from the automatic preference for mothers towards a balanced approach that prioritize’s the child’s best interests. This modern approach emphasizes the importance of both parents’ roles in a child’s life, focusing on their individual capacity to provide care and support, irrespective or gender. Please continue reading as this blog aims to equip fathers with a comprehensive understanding of their rights in New Jersey child custody proceedings and the importance of connecting with our compassionate Monmouth County Child Custody Attorneys.
What is the Importance of Establishing Paternity in New Jersey?
If you are not married to your child’s mother at the time of birth, establishing legal paternity is crucial. Legal paternity verifies the father child-relationship, granting you certain rights and responsibilities. When you establish legal paternity, you are afforded the right to seek custody, visitation, and make decisions about the child’s upbringing. It’s important to note that it also establishes your legal obligation to support the child financially.
In New Jersey, custody may be joint or sole. Joint custody may involve both legal and physical aspects, with both parents sharing decision-making and residential responsibilities. In most cases, one parent is designated the custodial parent. Sole custody is rarely awarded as the court believes it’s in the best interest of a child to have a meaningful relationship with both parents, unless there are specific reasons to believe otherwise.
In all custody cases, the court’s primary concern is the child’s best interests. The court will carefully examine various factors to determine the most appropriate custody arrangement. These factors include each parent’s home environment, physical and mental health, history of domestic violence or neglect, and the ability to foster a positive relationship between the child and the other parent.
What Rights Do Fathers Have?
In the Garden State, fathers have the same rights as mothers in custody disputes. As mentioned, the court presumes that children benefit from frequent and continuing contact with both parents. If you want to be actively involved in your child’s life, you should do everything in your power to get a custody schedule that reflects this. You should note that a parent cannot stop a child from seeing the other parent unless a court order states otherwise.
To strengthen your case, you should document your involvement in your child’s life. This includes maintaining records of consistent parenting time, participation in school activities, and attendance at medical appointments. This will show your committed to your child’s well-being. The judge will value a clear record of your active involvement as persuasive evidence in custody proceedings.
If you are facing a contentious custody battle, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney from Paone Zaleski & Murphy, who can best present your side and fight to protect your relationship with your child. Connect with our firm today to for guidance and skilled representation.
