{"id":351954,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:42","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/paternity\/fathers-rights.html"},"modified":"2026-07-17T15:49:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:49:00","slug":"fathers-rights","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/paternity\/fathers-rights.html","title":{"rendered":"Fathers&#8217; Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Fathers&#039; Rights<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/john-mascolo-esq\/\">John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/joseph-fawbush-esq\/\">Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            July 17, 2026\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-key-takeaways fl-mb30\" data-testid=\"fl-key-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"fl-card-content\">\n        <div class=\"fl-card-body fl-card-bg-teal fl-flex fl-flex-column\">\n                            <h2 class=\"fl-card-title fl-h2 fl-no-margin\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n                        <div data-testid=\"ai-message-body\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"MCP3KDqGHcr8JNBj6TzLW-content-0\">\n<p>Fathers\u2019 rights generally include the ability to seek custody, parenting time, and involvement in major decisions affecting their children. Fathers may also have rights related to adoption, parental leave, and access to important information about their child. The specifics of these rights vary by state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Understanding these critical rights can help fathers protect their role in their child\u2019s life. <span style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">This article will help you better understand your legal rights as a father. Find information on:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Parenting time interference<\/li>\n<li>Fathers&#8217; rights before birth and in family planning decisions<\/li>\n<li>Notable fathers&#8217; rights legal cases<\/li>\n<li>And more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Protect your right to parent your child. <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find legal help near you<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Fathers&#8217; Rights and Family Planning: Abortions and Adoptions<\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to family planning, decisions about abortion, adoption, and raising a child can have long-lasting implications for both parents. If a parent is considering putting a child up for adoption, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/paternity\/parental-rights-unmarried-fathers-and-adoption.html\">the father has the right to object<\/a> and petition for custody of the child.<\/p>\n<p>An expectant father who opposes the termination of a pregnancy has generally had no legal right to prevent it. Under the U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/410\/113.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Roe v. Wade<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(1973), the decision to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability was seen as a constitutional privacy right of the woman.<\/p>\n<p>Prior state regulations that sought to require a husband&#8217;s consent to abortion were struck down. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/spr-crt-us\/2176799.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Dobbs v. Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Organization<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(2022), the Court overturned its ruling in\u00a0<i>Roe<\/i>. This means a woman&#8217;s privacy rights in the abortion decision are now left to state law. The rights of a potential father prior to a child&#8217;s birth may vary by state.<\/p>\n<p>Current laws do not allow a father to avoid child support on the basis that he opposed the birth of the child. Public policy reinforces the view that a child should benefit from the financial support of both parents.<\/p>\n<p>Some advocates of greater fathers&#8217; rights have argued that fathers should have the right to &#8220;disclaim fatherhood&#8221; and refuse financial or legal responsibility for a child born against their wishes. This remains a controversial stance.<\/p>\n<h2>Fathers&#8217; Rights to Parental Leave<\/h2>\n<p>Research has shown that the entire family benefits when a father takes time off when a new child arrives. To make it easier for parents to bond with their new child, the federal\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/rights-and-responsibilities-under-the-fmla.html\">Family and Medical Leave Act<\/a> (FMLA) allows for 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain workers when a child is born or adopted.<\/p>\n<p>Several states also may provide for paid paternal and maternal leave. Paid leave can help mitigate the cost of leaving work to care for a child. These policies promote a child&#8217;s early development and well-being.<\/p>\n<h2>Fathers&#8217; Rights to Child Custody and Parenting Time<\/h2>\n<p>Both parents have the right to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody.html\">seek custody<\/a>\u00a0and parenting time with their child. A divorcing father may seek joint or shared custody before the family court. An unmarried father may establish paternity and then seek custody rights in court.<\/p>\n<p>In shared custody arrangements, both parents share decision-making responsibility for the child and often split parenting time more equally. Several states presume that shared custody is in the best interests of a child unless there is a history of domestic violence. Parents often cooperate and enter into a shared parenting plan, which then becomes part of the court order.<\/p>\n<p>Fathers may see a shared parenting plan as a way to preserve equal rights for the parents in the child&#8217;s life. This may be the case even if the parenting time schedule does not provide for equal time. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/how-much-child-support-will-you-pay.html\">Child support payments<\/a> may see adjustments based on the amount of parenting time the paying parent has with the child.<\/p>\n<p>When the court awards sole custody, one parent gains legal custody and primary physical custody regarding the child. Legal custody includes the right to make health care, school-related, and other important decisions for the child. Primary physical custody means that the child resides in your home the majority of the time.<\/p>\n<p>In a custody case with sole custody, the non-custodial parent gains visitation rights or parenting time. The child support order will order the non-custodial parent to pay the custodial parent support based on the state guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>Many parenting advocates argue that children are better served when both parents play a large role in their lives, even if they do not share legal custody. If the parents do not reach an agreement on custody and parenting time, then the court will issue a ruling and set the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/child-custody-laws.html\">custody order<\/a>. The court must review the evidence in light of the best interests of the child.<\/p>\n<h2>Parenting Time Interference<\/h2>\n<p>A parenting time agreement is often adopted by a court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/a-divorce-timeline.html\">during a divorce<\/a> or custody case. If the parties do not agree, then the court will set the final order on such matters. In either case, the final court order establishes each parent&#8217;s right to custody and parenting time with their child.<\/p>\n<p>While raising a child in two households, a parent may interfere with the other parent&#8217;s parenting time. For example, parents have an order that provides alternating weekend parenting time. The child&#8217;s mother schedules events with her extended family on the father&#8217;s weekend and requests that the father &#8220;give up&#8221; his time.<\/p>\n<p>In such a situation, the father may permit the child to attend the mother&#8217;s family event. The father could also refuse. The father could offer to swap time on the schedule with the child&#8217;s mother. If the parents work out an arrangement, they must address transportation, the new times for transferring the child back to the father, and other matters.<\/p>\n<p>If they do not agree, there may be bitterness in one household or the other. If the mother keeps the child against the father&#8217;s wishes, this may be a case of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/paternity\/parenting-time-interference.html\">parenting time interference<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Parenting time interference can be direct, as in keeping a child during the other parent&#8217;s time. It could be refusing to drop one&#8217;s son or daughter off with the other parent. Interference can also be more subtle and indirect. Other examples of parenting time interference include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disrupting communication between the child and the other parent<\/li>\n<li>Using the child to spy on the other parent and report back<\/li>\n<li>One parent denying the other parent their parenting time for long periods<\/li>\n<li>Malicious or alienating acts by one parent against the other<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Legal Consequences for Parenting Time Interference<\/h3>\n<p>When parents cannot work out custody and parenting time disputes informally, they will often seek legal advice. A family law attorney may discuss filing a contempt of court action against the offending parent. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/civil-contempt-of-court.html\">Civil contempt of court<\/a> hearings permit the court to review the conduct of the offending parent in light of the custody and parenting time order.<\/p>\n<p>If the court makes a contempt finding, the offending parent can be required to provide make-up parenting time, follow the schedule, or attend counseling. If they do not remedy the situation, the court may impose fines or jail time.<\/p>\n<p>Several states, like New York, have criminal offenses for parenting time interference. Depending on the facts, the offending parent may face <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/what-distinguishes-a-misdemeanor-from-a-felony.html\">misdemeanor or felony charges<\/a>. If convicted, the court can sentence them to jail or probation, or impose fines.<\/p>\n<p>A parent who experiences ongoing interference with custody may also file a motion in family court to modify custody or parenting time going forward.<\/p>\n<h2>Protect Your Rights as a Father: Get Legal Help<\/h2>\n<p>Fathers want to promote a healthy and stable life for their child. Fathers seeking to protect their rights may want to meet with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/paternity\/do-i-need-a-fathers-rights-attorney.html\">fathers&#8217; rights lawyer.<\/a> An experienced lawyer can explain the laws of your state and help you protect your ability to parent and play a significant role in your child&#8217;s life.<\/p>\n<div id=\"readmore\">\n<p>FindLaw\u2019s directory of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">family law attorneys<\/a> can get you started. Enter your city or ZIP code for a list of qualified legal professionals near you. Because your state\u2019s laws are relevant, your attorney should be licensed in your state. Your search results will also show important details about potential lawyers, including ratings and whether they offer free case evaluations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" 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          class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You can represent yourself in a paternity case, but establishing paternity can be emotionally and legally complex\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Lawyers can help you understand your rights and responsibilities\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A laywer can help stop a parenting time interference\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>An attorney can explain the legal procedures and consequences of establishing paternity. Many attorneys offer free consultations.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/fathers-rights\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                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class=\"fl-image-card\">\n                <div class=\"fl-image-card__content\">\n            <div class=\"action-card-layout\">\n                <h2 class=\"action-card-layout__heading\">\n                    Don&#8217;t Forget About Estate Planning\n                <\/h2>\n                <div class=\"action-card-layout__content fl-text-lg\">\n                    <p>If you are in the midst of a paternity case, it may be an ideal time to create or change your <a title=\"DIY Forms\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/estate-planning.html\">estate&nbsp;planning forms<\/a>. Take the time to add new beneficiaries to your will and name a guardian for any minor children. Consider creating a financial power of attorney so your agent can pay bills and provide for your children. A health care directive explains your health care decisions and takes the decision-making burden off your children when they become adults.<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/estate-planning.html\" class=\"action-card-layout__button fl-button fl-link-button secondary\">\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Start Planning<\/span>\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FindLaw outlines father\u2019s rights, like the right to visit one&#8217;s children and the requirement that fathers be consulted before an adoption, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":351944,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":["External Links","Alt Text for All Images","Category Assigned","Rank Math SEO Plugin Validation"]},"categories":[2730],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-351954","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-family"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/351954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=351954"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/351954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":401886,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/351954\/revisions\/401886"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/351944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=351954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=351954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=351954"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=351954"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=351954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}