Los Angeles Fathers' Rights Attorney
Defending the Rights of Fathers Throughout California
As a father, it is important to remember that you have parental rights, and those rights deserve to be protected. Legal separation, divorce, and custody battles can leave fathers in the dark, and many people wrongly believe that custody will automatically be given to the mother. However, this is not necessarily the case, and our Los Angeles fathers' rights lawyers can help.
Navigating Child Custody Issues with a Fathers' Rights Attorney
Child custody disputes can be some of the most challenging and emotionally charged issues that fathers face. At the Law Offices of Christopher L. Hoglin, P.C., our experienced Los Angeles fathers' rights lawyers understand the importance of protecting your parent-child relationship. We can help you navigate the complexities of child custody and visitation rights, including:
- Establishing legal custody
- Developing a parenting plan
- Negotiating custody and visitation agreements
- Modifying existing custody arrangements
- Enforcing custody orders
Our Los Angeles fathers' rights attorneys are dedicated to advocating for your rights as a parent and ensuring that your voice is heard in court. We understand that every family situation is unique, and we will work closely with you to develop a personalized legal strategy that meets your specific needs and goals.
When it comes to protecting your parent-child relationship, don't leave anything to chance. Contact our Los Angeles fathers' rights law firm today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you fight for your rights as a father.
Questions about your rights as a father in California? Contact our Los Angeles father's rights attorney at (626) 653-4075 and schedule a FREE consultation to learn how we can protect your rights.
How Can a Fathers' Rights Lawyer Help Me?
At the Law Offices of Christopher L. Hoglin, P.C., we will take the time to get to know you and your situation. We will discuss what your rights are as a parent and talk about your goals. Our Los Angeles fathers' rights lawyer will help you achieve a resolution that will not devastate your role in your child’s life.
Based in Pasadena, we provide counsel to clients throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
What Rights Does an Unmarried Father Have in California?
Without establishing paternity, an unmarried father does not have the right to make important decisions for his child, such as healthcare and education. That would belong to the mother. In the past, courts were reluctant to give any rights to unmarried fathers, but as time has passed, they are seeing the importance of the bond a child may have with their father. For this reason, they have highly encouraged any father wanting custody or visitation to establish paternity as soon as possible.
How Can I Establish Paternity in CA?
Paternity can be established using these two methods:
- Voluntary Declaration of Paternity: Both parents willfully sign a Declaration of Paternity at the hospital after their child is born. Upon doing so, both names of the parents go on the birth certificate. If both parents decide to wait and sign the declaration at a later date, it must be notarized or both parents must go to a registrar of births office to sign.
- Court Ordered Paternity: The father files a petition to the courts for a paternity test, which may involve a DNA test.
During these parentage cases, it's important to remember that both child support and custody orders can be requested by either parent. Having experienced legal representation by your side is critical at this juncture.
Results Driven Los Angeles Fathers' Rights Lawyers
There are a lot of fathers who want to remain in their children’s lives, and at the Law Offices of Christopher L. Hoglin, P.C., we are dedicated to working tirelessly to make sure your California fathers' rights are fully protected. Having legal representation on your side can give you the edge in court cases, as well as provide peace of mind that you are being protected during out-of-trial settlements.
Our Los Angeles fathers' rights lawyers will take the time to learn about you, your situation, and your family, and help with the following:
- Obtain favorable custody agreements, including helping you receive physical or legal custody of the children involved
- Work to defend you against accusations of domestic violence
- File necessary restraining orders
- Obtain paternity tests to verify that these are your biological children
- Help you obtain child support from the children’s mother
- Represent you in court and at all custody, support, and divorce proceedings
The laws in California will allow both parents the opportunity to fight for custody and visitation. Having both mother and father figures in the child's life has shown to be beneficial to a child's upbringing. This means fathers can assert their right to maintain their relationship with their child, even if they were not married to the mother at the child's birth.
Our Satisfied Clients
Read What They Say About Us
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“I highly recommend Chris and his team.”
“I had an amazing experience with Chris and his staff during my difficult process of divorce.”- Andres R. -
“A Neighborhood Gem”
“Christopher is hands down the best attorney I've ever met.”- Julio -
“Fantastic Work in Family Law Case - Highly Recommend”
“I cannot thank him enough for the work he did for me, and my family. I highly recommend him, and will definitely use him in the future if needed.”- Jasmine -
“I'm so grateful that I had Chris Hoglin and his team by my side”
“I'm so grateful that I had Chris Hoglin and his team by my side”- M.G. -
“Amazing law firm!!”
“Christopher is an amazing lawyer that helped us greatly with child custody/support.”- Former Client -
“Responsive and professional team!”
“Updates and constant communications helped keep me informed throughout the process.”- James G. -
“Chris is awesome, reasonable, sharp, and considerate”
“Chris is awesome, reasonable, sharp, and considerate”- Francisco G. -
“Mr. Holgin is a kind and professional attorney that you want on your side.”
“Mr. Holgin is a kind and professional attorney that you want on your side.”- Nathan T.
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Do Fathers Have a Right to Receive Child Support?
When it comes to child support, it’s not uncommon for people to believe that a father must always pay child support to the mother and not vice versa. In California, child support can’t take a parent’s sex into account – mothers and fathers are equally responsible for providing their child with financial support.
This means that either parent can request child support from the other parent during a divorce. Ultimately, the court will decide who pays child support and will determine a fair amount based upon a number of factors.
While child support orders are supposed to be made irrespective of a parent’s sex, fathers are often the ones paying support or feel as if the mother isn’t paying what she should when they receive it. These are problems that our father’s rights attorney in Pasadena can help you avoid if you’re in a similar dispute.
Do You Think You’re Paying Too Much in Child Support?
Another common problem fathers face is feeling like they’re paying way too much in child support to make ends meet. This is a serious concern for many fathers because failing to pay child support is a crime – a father who’s struggling to pay his bills because of child support can end up in jail for choosing to pay his rent or utility bills instead.
The purpose of child support is to help the parent who spends more time with a child pay for the child’s essential needs, such as shelter, food, clothing, and medical care. Child support orders are not supposed to punish a parent, but it can certainly feel like that’s what they’re doing at times – especially if a father is undergoing financial hardship.
If you are struggling to pay child support, you must petition the court to modify it. Even if you lost your job and are collecting unemployment, you are responsible for paying the amount of child support originally determined by the court until/if your modification is approved.
Any father petitioning for child support or to modify an order requires competent counsel that our father’s rights attorney in Los Angeles can offer. Reach out to the Law Offices of Christopher L. Hoglin, P.C. to schedule a free consultation!
Why Hire Us?
What Makes Us Different
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Results Driven
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Spanish Speaking Services Available
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Familiar with Local Judges & the Community
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Free Case Evaluation
What are a Father’s Rights During a Los Angeles Divorce?
Although the law states that parents must be treated equally regardless of their sex, fathers are often seen as less important to their children than mothers are. This perception – whether intentionally or not – can affect divorce proceedings in a number of ways.
During a divorce, however, a father has the following rights:
- Interacting with his children, spending time with them, and being involved in their lives
- Having an equal say in important decisions, such as a child’s religion, education, and general upbringing
- Participating in parenting responsibilities
- Parenting a child without the other parent’s interference
- Retaining access to his child’s medical and school records
- Participating in deciding medical treatment, as well as which doctors and dentists a child will see
- Disciplining children
In addition to these rights, a father and mother share responsibilities, such as providing financial support for their children, protecting them from neglect and harm, and more. Fathers should not need to fight for these rights during a divorce, although it may be necessary when a child’s mother is unwilling to cooperate during the process.
Additionally, a father doesn’t need to prove paternity to retain his parental rights during or after divorce. State law presumes that a married man is the legal parent of a child born during his marriage, whether or not the child is biologically related to him.
What Are Common Father's Rights Mistakes People Make?
Navigating the complexities of father's rights can be challenging, and it's not uncommon for fathers to make mistakes that could negatively impact their cases. Below are some common mistakes fathers make when dealing with their rights, which can often be avoided with proper legal guidance:
- Failing to Establish Paternity: Without establishing paternity, unmarried fathers may not have any legal rights to their children. This oversight can prevent them from making important decisions regarding their child’s education, healthcare, and general welfare.
- Not Keeping Detailed Records: Fathers often neglect to maintain thorough documentation of their interactions with their children and communications with the other parent. Such records can be crucial in custody battles and support disputes.
- Ignoring Temporary Orders: Disregarding temporary custody or support orders issued during divorce or separation proceedings can adversely affect a father’s case. Compliance is essential until permanent orders are in place.
- Self-Representation: Fathers may believe they can handle custody or support issues on their own without legal representation. This can lead to unfavorable outcomes, given the complexities of family law.
- Delayed Action: Postponing the pursuit of custody or support modifications, especially in changing circumstances such as financial difficulties or relocation, can result in legal disadvantages and missed opportunities.
- Inadequate Preparation for Hearings: Failing to prepare adequately for court hearings, including gathering necessary evidence and understanding procedural requirements, can negatively impact a father's case.
- Engaging in Hostile Communications: Using aggressive or inappropriate language in communications with the other parent or in front of the children can be detrimental. Courts favor cooperative co-parenting arrangements.
- Underestimating the Importance of a Parenting Plan: A detailed and well-thought-out parenting plan is critical in custody arrangements. Overlooking this aspect can lead to disputes and legal complications.
- Neglecting to Follow Legal Advice: Fathers sometimes ignore or fail to follow the advice given by their legal counsel, which can undermine their case and weaken their legal standing.
- Misunderstanding Child Support Obligations: Misinterpreting child support laws and obligations, including the consequences of non-payment, can lead fathers into serious legal issues, including jail time and loss of custody rights.
How Father's Advocate Lawyers Help People Avoid These Mistakes
Father's advocate attorneys guide fathers through the complexities of family law, helping them avoid common pitfalls associated with father's rights issues. These legal professionals ensure that paternity is established promptly, and assist clients in maintaining meticulous records of their interactions and communications. They emphasize the importance of following all temporary and permanent court orders.
Lawyers for fathers provide comprehensive legal representation to navigate the intricacies of custody and support proceedings. By offering timely, targeted legal advice and helping clients prepare thoroughly for court hearings, these attorneys advocate for a cooperative approach to co-parenting, mitigating hostile interactions. They also aid in developing detailed parenting plans, ensuring clients understand and adhere to their child support obligations, and offering ongoing support to ensure that all actions taken are in the best interest of the father and his children.
Ultimately, father's advocate lawyers are dedicated to protecting and asserting the rights of fathers, ensuring that they can maintain meaningful relationships with their children and effectively navigate the legal challenges they face.