San Francisco Fathers’ Rights Lawyers

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long will I have to pay child support for?

Child support is usually paid until the child reaches 18.  However, in some cases child support can be extended a little longer to help cover medical or educational expenses.

• Can I modify or change a child support order?

Yes, if you need to request an increase or decrease in child support payments, you can seek a modification of the child support order.  Modifications are usually requested when the parent paying child support experiences a sudden job loss or unexpected illness or medical emergency that makes it difficult to continue making payments.  Modifications can also be requested by the parent receiving child support payments if child care costs go up, usually due to educational or medical needs.

• What is the best way to make sure I obtain child custody?

The best way to obtain custody of your children is to prove to the judge that it’s in their best interest to remain in your custody.  We can help you highlight the strong bond between you and your children, as well as draw attention to the many reasons why your children would benefit from being in your care.   As long as the judge believes your children’s best interests are being served in your care, he or she will have no reason to deny you custody.

• What do if I do if the judge doesn’t award me child custody?

If you were not granted physical custody of your children, you can still appeal for visitation rights. Visitation rights give you the opportunity to see and spend time with your children on certain days and times.  In addition, after a certain amount of time has passed, you can reapply for custody of your children.  As long as you can prove that it’s in your children’s best interest to be in your custody, there is no reason why the judge wouldn’t agree to your request.

• Can child custody be split?

Yes.  Judges in California want both parents to be actively involved in raising their children.  For this reason, judges will grant custody to both parents, as long as it’s in the best interest of the children.   If the judge feels that one parent is unfit to care for the children, then sole custody will be awarded to the parent capable of providing a good life for the children.

• Can you help me established paternity?

Yes. If you need to establish paternity to prove whether or not you are the father of a child, we can help.  We represent men wishing to disprove paternity in order to be excused from making child support payments, as well as men who want to prove they are the father of a child in order to have the legal grounds to demand access to the child. 

For more information, click here to contact a San Francisco Fathers’ Rights Attorney at our firm today!