Establishing Parent Rights without Attorney?

[merekc]

No flames please.

I have a family member that found out they had a child several years ago when the child was one. Parternity was established, they pay child support (I believe this was done through the courts) but at that time no rights were given to him. I don't know the details, my guess would be he probably didn't have an attorney due to finances and thus didn't get any rights established at that time.

He and the mom worked out visitation and they have kept that schedule for several years. Due to increased conflict between the two parties, he is wanting to get his rights established via the court.

Without hiring an attorney, because again attorneys are ridiculously expensive, is there any other way to get legal rights assigned to a person. Are there any parent groups that he should be in contact with? Any department within the city that can provide help? I know if you get accused of a crime attorneys are provided through the courts, is there anything like this for parent rights.

Any help or guidance is appreciated.

 

[disneymarie]

There are no courts anywhere in the states that make you have an attorney for custodial, visitation.
Go to the Orphans Court of the childs juridiction and file the paper work for a hearing. The documents in our courthouse are on a rack to just take. You do not need assistance to fill it out.

Also, many men have Fathers rights support groups he can do a google.
I worked in this area. The one issue I did have were absentee fathers that used the child as a ploy and against the custodial parent. You do run into this. I was married to one.

But I applaude any father that steps up and is a father to the child unconditionally. Judges greatly appreciate the stand up father too.

Good luck