Oklahoma City Fathers’ Rights Lawyer

Fathers in Oklahoma have parental rights, just like mothers do. However, the situation is a little more complicated for fathers who want to seek child custody or visitation rights. Hiring an Oklahoma City fathers’ rights lawyer is the most straightforward way to gain access to your child.

Trust Bundy Law

Bundy Law is home to many talented legal professionals, including Oklahoma’s only International Academy of Family Lawyers–certified attorney. Our Oklahoma City family law attorneys have been practicing child custody law and supporting fathers’ rights for years. We have what it takes to help you establish paternity and petition the court for visitation or custody in Oklahoma City. Let us help.

Why Hire a Fathers’ Rights Lawyer?

In Oklahoma, 35% of all children live in single-parent households. Around 80,713 households are headed by single mothers with children, but only 24,289 families are headed by single fathers. This discrepancy is indicative of an overall trend in the Sooner State.

If you’re one of the many fathers in Oklahoma who do not currently have visitation or custody rights, you should hire a fathers’ rights lawyer. Your lawyer can help you with everything from filing paperwork and keeping track of deadlines to providing you with courtroom representation should it become necessary. Having a lawyer will make the entire process of exercising your parental rights much easier and less stressful.

Fathers’ Rights Upon Divorce

When married couples with children get divorced in Oklahoma, the court decides who should get physical and legal custody of those children based on what is in their best interests. In some cases, that means granting full custody to one parent. In most cases, it means granting joint custody to both.

In theory, mothers don’t get special treatment when it comes to child custody and divorce in Oklahoma City. The child’s best interests are assumed to be prioritized by maintaining a relationship with both parents. However, there are some factors that will influence the court’s opinion when you head to your hearing at the Oklahoma County District Court. They include:

• Each parent’s wishes
• The wishes of the child, if appropriate
• The child’s relationship with each parent
• Any provable history of neglect or abuse
• Each parent’s ability to provide for the child
• The child’s and parents’ mental and physical health
• Each parent’s ability to spend time with the child

Fathers have the same rights as mothers when it comes to requesting sole custody based on the child’s best interests. If there is a compelling reason that the mother should have only a limited role in the child’s life, the father can make this argument in court and may be granted sole custody.

Unwed Fathers’ Rights

A recent change in Oklahoma law, HB 3193, granted unwed fathers equal rights and responsibilities upon signing an acknowledgement of paternity. While this implies full equality, the reality is more nuanced. Prior to the passage of HB 3193, unwed mothers automatically had sole legal and physical custody of their children, even in the presence of an acknowledgement of paternity.

Unfortunately, while the legal changes appear sweeping, they haven’t been implemented as significantly as possible. Securing custody of your children will still require court intervention. You will need to petition the court for custody after you have proven paternity. This may involve a mediation proceeding or a trial, depending on your relationship with the child’s mother and the particulars of your case. In the end, you may be assigned sole or joint legal or physical custody.

Unmarried fathers who have established paternity don’t always seek custody rights. In some cases, they may only want visitation rights. As with assigning custody, visitation rights are prioritized in the child’s best interests. As long as you don’t have a history of abuse or substance use, the chances are good that the court will decide it’s in the child’s best interests to maintain a relationship with you as their father.

FAQs

What Rights Do Fathers Have in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, fathers have the right to custody, visitation, and involvement in their children’s lives. However, if you are not married to your child’s mother, you may need a court order to formalize those rights. You can formalize your rights by establishing paternity via an Acknowledgement of Paternity or a court action. Contact an Oklahoma City paternity lawyer for more info.

Can a Mother Refuse a Child Access to the Father?

A mother cannot refuse a child access to their father in Oklahoma if there’s a court order in place establishing the father’s parental rights. There are, however, some exceptions. Mothers can deny access to fathers if they have a good faith and reasonable belief that the child could come to harm as a result of abuse or neglect. However, she must seek court intervention to immediately modify the child custody order.

How Much Does a Child Custody Lawyer Cost in Oklahoma?

How much a child custody lawyer costs in Oklahoma varies on a case-by-case basis. Factors such as the complexity of your case, whether it has to go to court, and how experienced your attorney is in the field of child custody law. If there’s a need for extra services, such as those of a mediator or an investigator, that can also increase the cost of hiring an Oklahoma City child custody attorney.

What Is the Biggest Mistake in a Child Custody Battle?

The biggest mistake in a child custody battle is putting your emotions ahead of your child’s best interests. You should try to maintain an amicable relationship with the child’s mother and avoid inappropriate communications with her. It’s also important to avoid badmouthing your child’s mother in front of them or otherwise manipulating the child for the sake of hurting their mother.

Your Oklahoma City Fathers’ Rights Lawyer

It doesn’t matter whether you’re seeking visitation rights or full custody of your child. An Oklahoma City fathers’ rights attorney can help you navigate the complex child custody system. The team here at Bundy Law is deeply familiar with fathers’ rights laws and how they apply to various situations. Let us help you resolve your fathers’ rights dispute. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.