West Palm Beach Mother’s Rights Lawyer

As a mother, you may face numerous challenges in a family law case. It’s essential to ensure that your contributions to your marriage and your children are appropriately recognized.

Whether you are asserting your child custody/visitation rights, fighting for a fair property division in divorce, or protecting yourself and your children from family violence, a skilled West Palm Beach mother’s rights lawyer could provide guidance and support. Our dedicated Palm Beach County attorneys could work aggressively to protect your rights as a mother. Call today to learn more.

A Mother’s Child Custody Rights

State law does not allow any legal preference for awarding child custody/visitation to mothers. The state’s policy ensures that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after a separation or divorce.

When shared parenting is not in a child’s best interests, a mother has the right to seek sole custody. Some circumstances where a mother may have to assert her custodial rights include:

• The other parent abuses drugs or alcohol
• An untreated mental health issue renders the other parent unable to care for the child
• The other parent continuously interferes with the mother’s relationship with her child
• The other parent has been convicted of child abuse or neglect
• The other parent refuses to communicate with the mother about their child’s welfare effectively

A dedicated mother’s rights lawyer in West Palm Beach could assess the facts of a case and help determine if the situation may warrant sole custody/visitation to the mother.

A Mother’s Right to Protect Herself and Her Children

When a spouse or former partner threatens the safety and well-being of a mother, state law entitles her to seek protection from the court. A mother can request a restraining order and ask a judge to prohibit the abusive party from contacting her and her children if their safety has also been jeopardized.

In extreme cases of abuse, a mother could request that a neutral third party supervise the abusive parent’s visitation to protect the children from further harm. Additionally, if criminal charges, counseling, and other corrective measures do not stop the other parent’s harmful behavior, a mother could seek termination of the other parent’s parental rights.

Cases involving family violence are among the most serious legal matters heard in Palm Beach County family courts. As such, a mother experiencing domestic abuse should consult a capable attorney as soon as possible.

Establishing Paternity to Preserve a Mother’s Rights

When an unwed couple has a child, state law designates the mother as the child’s natural custodian. Unless a father’s paternity is established, the mother retains sole legal and physical custody of the child.

To determine paternity, either the mother or the child’s father has the right to file a paternity petition and request genetic testing. Once paternity is established, a mother may request child support. Additionally, the father may seek custody or visitation with the child.

Because paternity determinations can impact many aspects of both the child and the mother’s life, a mother is well-advised to seek counsel from an experienced mother’s rights attorney in West Palm Beach before initiating paternity proceedings.

Situations Where a Mother’s Rights are Important

There are numerous other matters where a mother may need to assert her rights in family court. Some of these include:

• Child support
• Modification of child custody/visitation
• Spousal support
• Enforcement of custody and support orders
• Relocation with a child

A seasoned attorney understands the complex family laws in West Palm Beach and could work vigorously to protect a mother’s rights in these cases.

Contact a Trusted West Palm Beach Mother’s Rights Attorney Today

If your rights as a mother are at risk, you could benefit from the sound legal advice of a practiced West Palm Beach mother’s rights lawyer. Our dedicated legal team could develop a plan to protect you and your children and preserve your legal rights.

To learn more about what our Palm Beach County attorneys could do for you, reach out today. We are happy to set up an initial consultation to discuss your case.