Glastonbury Mothers’ Rights Lawyer

In child custody cases, a mother’s parental rights may become a topic of interest in situations of divorce as well as disputes between unmarried parents. A Glastonbury mothers’ rights lawyer could explain your legal options if you are a single or divorcing parent going through a child custody case. A skilled child custody attorney could help protect your parental rights and your child’s best interests.

Factors Affecting Child Custody

A mother has the option of negotiating custody with the child’s other parent or asking a court to make its own determinations. Whether the issue of custody is handled amicably by the parents or through court intervention, state law requires every custody matter to be handled in such a way as to further the bests interests of the child. Therefore, a judge is obligated to consider a variety of factors when either approving a custody agreement between two parents or fashioning one of their own. These factors may include:

• The preferences of the parents
• The preferences of the child, depending on their age
• The ability of both parents to meet the child’s needs
• The stability of the parents’ respective places of residence
• Any history of domestic violence on the part of either parent
• The physical and mental health of both parents

While a judge may award sole custody in some cases, state courts typically prefer joint care arrangements where both parents who are regularly involved can serve their child’s best interests. A Glastonbury mothers’ rights attorney could help a parent fight for sole custody if she believes that the best interests of her child does not include their other parent.

Unmarried Mothers and Establishing Paternity

Negotiations regarding custody and closely related issues, such as child support and visitation, can become complex if the mother was unmarried at the time her child was born. In situations such as these, the other parent may have to establish paternity for their parental rights and responsibilities to be recognized under state law. The primary benefit of establishing paternity to a mother who is not married is that it may entitle her and her child to:

• Child support
• Health and life insurance benefits
• Veterans’ benefits
• Access to the father’s medical history
• Inheritance rights

Parents may establish paternity by signing an Acknowledgement of Paternity or obtaining a court order requiring the alleged father to undergo genetic testing. A Glastonbury lawyer with experience in litigating mothers’ rights cases could assist an unmarried woman in determining paternity to obtain support from her child’s other parent.

Schedule a Consultation with a Glastonbury Mothers’ Rights Attorney Today

Fighting for your parental rights in family court can be difficult without a seasoned and diligent attorney by your side. A Glastonbury mothers’ rights lawyer could provide support and legal advice if you are fighting for custody of your child. Additionally, a dedicated attorney could give your information about your legal options as they pertain to financial support for your child. To retain a legal advocate, schedule an initial consultation on your case today.