Issues Facing Unmarried Couples and Child Custody

Often a person may associate child custody issues with those who are going through a divorce, but that is not always the case. Around 40 percent of babies born today are born to unwed mothers. It’s not surprising that there are many custody issues for these families in the Bowie area.

Custody disputes among unwed mothers and fathers, grandparents or other relatives are common. When parents are not married, both parents have the right to pursue custody. Custody is awarded in both physical and legal custody. Legal custody involves decision making regarding the child and physical custody is where the child will live. The court will decide what is in the child’s best interest and who has been the child’s main caregiver. They can award sole custody to one parent, or joint custody, or award visitation rights to a parent.

Child custody can be a complicated issue for some families. A legal professional who is skilled in family law can help a person work through their child custody issues. An attorney understands what custody issues a single parent is facing and knows how to help. Emotions can be complicated, and a parent may just want to have a relationship with their child. Having an attorney to protect a person during these challenging times is important. They can work hard to protect both the parent’s rights and the child’s rights.

A large percentage of children are born to unwed mothers. These can be complicated cases when it comes to child custody and child support. Having an attorney to help work out the details regarding these challenges can be helpful.

Source: FindLaw, “Custody and visitation in non-divorce cases“, accessed on July 24, 2017