Father’s Rights Attorney in Joplin, MO
Fathers play a critical role in the lives of their children, and Missouri law recognizes that both parents should have equal opportunities to build and maintain meaningful relationships with their children. At Flex Legal Group, we are committed to advocating for father’s rights in Joplin, MO. Whether you are seeking custody, visitation, or legal recognition of your parental rights, our firm is here to support you throughout the legal process.
Establishing Paternity
One of the first and most important steps in securing a father’s legal rights is establishing paternity. For unmarried fathers, paternity must be legally recognized before custody, visitation, or child support orders can be pursued. In Missouri, paternity can be established voluntarily by signing an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity or through a court-ordered DNA test.
Once paternity is established, the father gains legal rights and responsibilities, including the ability to seek custody, participate in major decisions about the child’s upbringing, and ensure a consistent relationship with the child. Flex Legal Group assists clients in initiating or responding to paternity actions and navigating the legal steps required to affirm fatherhood.
Custody and Visitation Rights for Fathers
Fathers have the right to seek joint or sole custody of their children, just as mothers do. Missouri courts are required to make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child, and they do not favor one parent over the other based solely on gender. Fathers who demonstrate their ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment have every right to be awarded primary or shared custody.
In situations where one parent is awarded primary custody, the non-custodial father is typically entitled to a fair and reasonable visitation schedule. Flex Legal Group helps fathers obtain custody and visitation rights that reflect their involvement in the child’s life, and we work to ensure parenting plans are legally enforceable and realistic.
Protecting Parental Rights
In some cases, fathers may face challenges in asserting their parental rights due to disputes with the child’s other parent or misunderstandings about legal rights. Whether you are being denied visitation, excluded from decision-making, or threatened with parental alienation, Flex Legal Group will fight to protect your legal relationship with your child.
We advocate for fathers in court proceedings and help address issues such as enforcement of custody or visitation orders, false accusations of misconduct, and modifications to existing arrangements. Our goal is to ensure that you remain a consistent and active presence in your child’s life.
Child Support and Financial Responsibilities
With legal recognition of fatherhood also comes the responsibility of child support. Missouri calculates child support using the Form 14 worksheet, which takes into account both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and the amount of parenting time each parent has.
Flex Legal Group assists fathers in ensuring that support orders are fair, based on accurate financial information, and reflective of their current circumstances. We also help with support modifications when there is a significant change in income or parenting time.
Contact Flex Legal Group
If you are a father seeking to protect or assert your parental rights in the Joplin, MO area, Flex Legal Group is here to help. We are committed to ensuring that fathers receive fair treatment and strong representation in family law matters. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your relationship with your child.