Parental Rights In Atlanta

Parental Rights and Why You Need Them

Tessie D. Edwards & Associates P.C. has an office in Atlanta, GA, and serves clients throughout the surrounding metropolitan area. Our firm is dedicated to helping parents establish and protect their parental rights through comprehensive legal representation. Parental rights are the legal responsibilities and privileges that a parent holds in relation to their child. These rights include making decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, and overall well-being.

Whether you’re a biological parent, adoptive parent, or seeking to establish parental rights in a complicated legal situation, understanding your rights is crucial for your child’s future and your relationship with them. Without legally recognized parental rights, you may have limited or no say in critical aspects of your child’s life. This can impact child custody, visitation rights, and decision-making, particularly in cases of divorce, separation, or unmarried parenthood.

Why Are Parental Rights Important?

Legal Authority Over Your Child’s Well-being

Parental rights give you the authority to make decisions regarding your child’s upbringing, including:

Education choices, such as selecting a school or homeschooling
Healthcare decisions, including medical treatments and vaccinations
Religious upbringing and moral guidance
Extracurricular activities and social influences

Without parental rights, you may be unable to influence these vital areas of your child’s life. Courts prioritize the child’s best interests, but without legal parental rights, your ability to advocate for your child could be significantly reduced.

Custody and Visitation Rights

In cases of divorce or separation, parental rights determine who will have child custody. There are two main types of custody:

Legal custody – The right to make decisions about the child’s welfare, education, and health
Physical custody – The right to have the child live with you

If both parents share custody, courts often look at factors such as financial stability, emotional support, and the parent’s relationship with the child. Without established parental rights, you may face challenges in obtaining custody or visitation rights, limiting your relationship with your child.

Financial and Emotional Support

Parental rights also establish financial obligations. Courts typically require both parents to contribute to child support, ensuring the child’s needs are met. Having legally recognized parental rights allows you to seek support from the other parent if necessary.

Additionally, emotional support is a crucial aspect of raising a child. Without a legally recognized parental role, you may find yourself excluded from major life events, school activities, and important medical decisions, which can weaken your bond with your child.

Protection Against Termination of Parental Rights

In some cases, a parent’s rights may be challenged by the state or another party. Without clear legal standing, you may face difficulties defending your rights if child custody disputes arise, or if someone else attempts to adopt your child without your consent. Courts may terminate parental rights if they determine that a parent is unfit due to neglect, abuse, or abandonment. However, if you are falsely accused or wrongfully challenged, an experienced parental rights attorney can help you retain your rights.

How to Establish Parental Rights

At Tessie D. Edwards & Associates P.C., we help clients in Atlanta, GA, and the surrounding metropolitan area navigate the complexities of establishing parental rights. Whether you are a biological parent, an adoptive parent, or a non-biological caregiver, securing your legal standing is crucial for protecting your relationship with your child.

A man in a hoodie sits on a couch with a young child on his lap, reading a book together. A woman sits beside them holding a baby dressed in a patterned onesie, who is reaching toward the book. The family is engaged in a cozy indoor setting.

For Biological Parents

For married biological parents, parental rights are automatically recognized when the child is born. However, for unmarried parents, additional steps may be required to establish parental rights, particularly for fathers.

For Fathers Seeking Parental Rights

If a father is not married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth, he may need to legally establish paternity. This can be done through:

Signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity at birth
Requesting a paternity test and obtaining a court order
Filing for legitimation (in states where this is required, such as Georgia)

Establishing paternity grants the father the right to child custody, visitation rights, and decision-making in the child’s life. Courts encourage father involvement in a child’s life, as research shows children benefit from having both parents engaged in their upbringing.

For Adoptive Parents

Adoption is another way to establish parental rights. In cases of step-parent adoption, relative adoption, or agency adoption, the court grants legal parental rights after a thorough process. This process often involves background checks, home studies, and legal proceedings to ensure the child’s best interests are met. Without legally recognized adoption, non-biological parents may not have decision-making authority over the child.

For Non-Biological and Same-Sex Parents

Laws regarding non-biological and same-sex parents vary by state. In some cases, second-parent adoption or parental recognition laws may be required to ensure full legal rights. It’s crucial to work with an experienced family law attorney to secure these rights. Without legal recognition, a non-biological parent may not have custody or decision-making authority in the event of separation or death of the biological parent.

Challenges to Parental Rights

Parental alienation occurs when one parent deliberately influences a child to turn against the other parent, causing emotional distress and weakening the parent-child bond. Courts take alienation seriously and may modify child custody arrangements if one parent is engaging in this behavior. Documenting instances of alienation and working with legal professionals can help you protect your relationship with your child.

Restrictive Custody Arrangements

In contentious divorces, one parent may attempt to limit the other’s access to the child through restrictive custody agreements. If you believe your rights are being unfairly restricted, you may need to seek legal action to modify child custody terms.

A woman in a red coat, a child in a blue jacket with a yellow backpack, and a man in a brown coat walk hand in hand on a street. Autumn leaves are on the trees, and a white car is parked nearby.

False Allegations of Neglect or Abuse

Unfortunately, false allegations of abuse or neglect can arise in child custody disputes. If you are falsely accused, it is crucial to seek legal representation immediately to protect your rights and prove your ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for your child.

How a Family Law Attorney Can Help

Tessie D. Edwards & Associates P.C. has an office in Atlanta, GA, and serves clients throughout the surrounding metropolitan area. Our dedicated legal team provides personalized legal representation to protect your parental rights and ensure the best possible outcome for your case. At Tessie D. Edwards & Associates P.C., we understand the importance of protecting and asserting your parental rights. Our experienced family law attorneys can assist with:

Establishing paternity and legitimation
Filing for child custody and visitation rights
Defending against parental rights termination
Navigating adoption and guardianship processes
Modifying existing custody agreements

Secure Your Parental Rights Today

Parental rights are fundamental in ensuring you have a meaningful role in your child’s life. Whether you are seeking to establish rights as a father, adoptive parent, or non-biological caregiver, taking proactive legal steps can protect your relationship with your child. Tessie D. Edwards & Associates P.C. is committed to serving families in Atlanta, GA, and the surrounding metropolitan area. If you need assistance with parental rights, child custody disputes, or any other family law matter, contact us today for a consultation and take the first step toward securing your parental rights.

Parental rights are fundamental in ensuring you have a meaningful role in your child’s life. Whether you are seeking to establish rights as a father, adoptive parent, or non-biological caregiver, taking proactive legal steps can protect your relationship with your child. If you need assistance with parental rights, child custody disputes, or any other family law matter, Tessie D. Edwards & Associates P.C. is here to help. Contact us today for a consultation and take the first step toward securing your parental rights.