Realizing that you have a legal problem that requires the assistance of an attorney is worrisome in and of itself; however, you then need to figure out what type of lawyer you need and find the right one for you and your legal problem. For the average person, choosing a lawyer can be stressful because it is not something they do every day. If the need for a lawyer stems from a family law issue, the need to hire the right lawyer is intensified. You may have heard the term “father’s rights attorney” at some point; however, how do you know if a father’s rights attorney is the right type of lawyer for your legal problem?
Does It Really Matter What Type of Lawyer I Retain?
In short – yes, it definitely matters what type of lawyer you retain to represent you. During law school, all lawyers learn the same basic fundamentals of the primary areas of the law. Law students also learn how to research legal questions and interpret case law. During their final year in law school, students may begin to focus on one or two specialized areas of the law, such as contract, personal injury (torts), or family law. After graduation, most new lawyers will continue to hone skills in their selected area(s) of the law. It is true that as long as a lawyer is licensed, he/she is authorized to handle any type of legal matter; however, turning to a contracts attorney for representation in a criminal case, or depending on a bankruptcy attorney for representation in a divorce, would be like asking a dermatologist to diagnose a brain tumor. So yes, it definitely matters what type of lawyer you retain for your legal issues.
What Would I Need a Father’s Rights Attorney?
A father’s rights lawyer is a lawyer who handles family law matters with an emphasis on the rights of fathers in those matters. Some of the legal issues a father’s rights lawyer might handle include:
- Divorce
- Conservatorship of minor children
- Child support
- Possession and access with minor children
- Spousal support
- Modifying conservatorship and/or possession and access plans
- Contempt of court orders relating to possession and access with children
- Parental relocation requests or objections to requests
- Issues related to medical expenses, or other non-child support expenses for minor children
- Establishing parental rights for a child born out of wedlock
- Adoption
- Guardianship of a minor child
Not all that long ago, both society and the law assigned roles to parents based on their gender. Mothers were supposed to nurture the children while father’s were the breadwinners. Over the last several decades, however, the concept of assigned roles has begun to evaporate. Even in two parent households, women now contribute equally to the financial support of the family and fathers contribute equally to parenting the children. The laws in most states, including the State of Texas, now prohibit a court from making custody decisions based on the gender of the parent. In other words, there is no longer a presumption that a mother will get custody (conservatorship in Texas) of the minor children in a divorce.
Despite the changes in society and the law, old habits can die hard and long-standing assumptions are sometimes difficult to rebut. Consequently, fathers continue to fight an uphill battle sometimes when it comes to their legal parenting rights. A father’s rights lawyer is an attorney who has devoted his/her practice to fighting this uphill battle.
If you are the father of a minor child and you are currently in the middle of litigation related to that child, or you foresee the need for litigation in the near future, you owe it to yourself and to your child to consult with an experienced father’s rights attorney to discuss your legal options. Having a father’s rights lawyer on your side ensures that your parental rights will be protected now and in the future.
Contact a Texas Father’s Rights Attorney
If you have additional questions or concerns relating to your legal rights as a father, contact an experienced Texas father’s rights attorney at The Law Office of Jon R. Boyd to schedule your appointment today.
