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Fathers increasingly trying to gain legal custody of children

In Washington, when there is a child custody dispute, one of the concerns that often arises has to do with the visitation rights of the father and gaining physical custody. While the ideal resolution is to have parenting time organized in such a way that it is satisfactory to both parents, there are times when a father doesn't feel that the amount of time allocated is enough and he will strive to receive custody on a full-time basis.

There is a widely held belief that mothers will receive precedence when there is a child custody dispute. Increasingly, father's rights groups are standing up for men who would like to change that. Men are becoming more aggressive in trying to obtain custody of a child and want the stereotypical idea that the child belongs with the mother to be reconsidered. This is something of an advancement for fathers after years of the child almost automatically being awarded to the mother. As men become more involved with their children, the prevalence of unmarried parents having children and battling over custody and the amount of data as to how children fare when living with a mother or father, fathers are using the open-mindedness of father's rights to try and win legal custody of their children.

No matter the situation, the welfare of the child is first and foremost. All circumstances are different and will have multiple factors going into how the decision for child custody is made. Parents must understand the difference between legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody means that the parent will be making all of the important decisions for the child regarding medical care, school and other issues. Physical custody involves the parent being responsible for the child and taking care of his or her daily needs. Whether the separation of the parents is amicable or contentious, it's imperative that parents know how best to advance their cause.

For fathers, the desire to have a prominent role in a child's life is leading to increased legal battles for child custody with a chance to win. Because a child's well-being is the first thing that the legal system will focus on, parents who are engaging in a child custody dispute need to know how to approach their case. In order to do that, discussing the matter with an experienced legal professional is a key decision.

Source: The Clarion Ledger, "More dads demand equal custody rights," Sharon Jayson, June 14, 2014

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