Biological parents have a right to seek child visitation or child custody. This is true regardless of whether the child's parents were married when the child was born. Like other child custody decisions, courts use the best interest of the child to decide disputed child visitation or custody cases involving unmarried fathers. Unless evidence indicates otherwise, courts making child visitation decisions presume that involvement of both parents benefits the child.

The following is a summary of child custody and visitation rights for unmarried fathers, with information on establishing paternity and drafting parenting agreements.

First Step: Establishing Paternity

Fathers who were not married when their child was born must legally establish paternity in order to gain access to father's rights. Often, this simply means both parents signing and filing an acknowledgment of paternity with the appropriate state agency or court, either at the time of the child's birth or afterward. In disputed paternity cases, a legal process including DNA testing will conclude with a court order stating whether the man in question is the child's biological father.

Once paternity is established, a father may pursue child visitation or other custody rights. Many states offer simultaneous filing for recognition of paternity and for visitation or custody rights.

Child Visitation and Child Custody Agreements

Either before or after a legal process has begun, many parents negotiate a parenting agreement (also called a parenting plan). A parenting agreement can include a wide variety of details including which parent will have primary custody, specifics on the other parents visitation periods, particulars on which parent will make decisions regarding the child's education, health care or religion, as well as procedures for the handling of potential changes to the arrangement.

The visitation rights of unmarried fathers often depend on their relationship with the child, any history of child abuse, drug and alcohol use, and other such factors.

Visitation and Custody Rights of Unmarried Fathers: Court Orders

If the parties are unable to agree on a parenting agreement, either parent may petition the court for child visitation or custody help. Parents who can agree to a parenting plan may file it with a court, asking the judge to approve and incorporate it into a court order on visitation and/or custody. Having the agreement become part of a court order allows either parent a direct way to enforce his or her parental rights.

If the parents cannot agree on visitation or custody arrangements, either one may ask the court to grant his or her request through a contested hearing. Courts deciding visitation and other custody issues focus on the best interest of the child.

Generally, courts presume that children benefit from having both parents involved in their upbringing. This presumption can be overcome if one parent can show that visitation or custody by the other parent would likely cause harm to the child. For example, evidence of domestic violence or drug problems could be used to argue against a parent having custody or visitation with a child.

While courts recognize visitation rights for unmarried fathers, it's rare for fathers to win sole custody of a child already being raised by the mother. To do so, an unmarried father would likely need to show that the mother is unfit to raise the child and/or that he has been the child's primary caregiver. Child visitation or shared custody rights, however, allow many unmarried fathers to play a consistent role in their children's' lives.

Should arrangements need to change, the court can modify the child visitation or custody order, either after both parents agree to the change, or after one parent petitions the court to make the change. Some states allow parents to agree on modification to visitation arrangements without a courts approval, however, a modified updated court orders allow easier enforcement of agreed arrangements and is the best way to ensure visitation rights for unmarried fathers.

How to Proceed

To learn more about unmarried fathers' custody rights and access to visitation, see these resources on state paternity laws, as well as these state child custody and visitation resources.

An Attorney Can Help Protect the Custody and Visitation Rights of Unmarried Fathers

Each state has its own laws surrounding child custody, child visitation, and the role of unmarried fathers. While unmarried fathers have parental rights, understanding the boundaries and limitations of those rights is important in being able to achieve the outcome that you want. Contact a local child custody lawyer today to learn more about your custody and visitation rights and to get you on solid ground as you move forward.