A strong and healthy father-child relationship is essential for the child’s emotional and psychological development. Research shows that involved fathers contribute significantly to their children’s well-being, academic achievement and overall life outcomes. The...
Father’s rights & paternity
Are you the legally recognized father of your child?
In most instances, fathers are not automatically recognized as legal parents if a child is born outside of marriage -- at least in the eyes of the law. If you do not establish paternity, the mother remains the sole legal guardian and custodial parent of the child....
Are you dealing with your first post-divorce Father’s Day?
If this is the first Father’s Day since you and your co-parent split up, you may find it a lot more difficult than you anticipated. It’s important to manage your expectations. Maybe you’re able to have your kids with you on Father’s Day weekend because you and your...
How unmarried parents establish paternity in Kentucky
Society is constantly changing, and unlike the previous generations, more people are choosing to delay or forego marriage. A recent report better paints the picture of this societal shift which is slowly becoming a way of life. But, what does it mean for the family...
The benefits of establishing paternity as an unmarried dad
You aren't automatically perceived as the father of a child when you have one with a woman who isn't your wife in Kentucky. Instead, you have to take steps to establish paternity. It's possible to have your name added to the birth certificate if you and the child's...
Can you establish paternity without going through the courts?
Family court proceedings often become public record and can lead to embarrassment, especially for high-profile individuals or successful professionals. Paternity issues could affect your career or your marriage, especially if you have to go to court. Sometimes, it...
Can the mother of your child stop a genetic test for paternity?
When you and the mother of your child found out that she was pregnant, you may have both been excited and joyful about this new addition to your relationship. Sadly, pregnancy lasts a long time, and things between the two of you may have changed before you welcomed...
There’s no reason to delay finding out the truth about a child’s paternity
As someone who has a child on the way, you know how important it is that they know both their mother and father. Many people go through children’s early years being uncertain if the man is really the father, but there’s no real excuse for that. A DNA test isn’t...
Did you know that shared parenting is now the norm in Kentucky?
A lot of fathers worry that, in a divorce, they’ll be denied equal custody of their children. They worry that old presumptions about the roles of men and women in childcare and attitudes about the importance of mothers versus fathers to their children will sway a...
Fathers can be nurturing
Among those who believe that women make better caregivers for children than men, and who may therefore argue that women should get custody during a divorce, you’ll sometimes find the argument that mothers are nurturing and fathers are not. A child with two married...