The term fathers’ rights may alarm some people, so it is important to understand the phrase in the context of legal matters. Fathers’ rights is not a men’s rights movement pushing for fathers to have more rights than they currently do, and it in no way advocates or expects legal treatment to differ based on gender. In fact, it is precisely the opposite, seeking only for both genders to be treated equally when it comes to custody matters.
It is an indisputable fact that women have been perennially more likely to be granted full custody of children. This is not necessarily because women have been more favored by the courts, but mostly because historically women have been better prepared to care for the children while men were more capable of paying to support the child. Nowadays, many households are dual-income, and depending on the circumstances of the family, either spouse could be in an equally strong place to care for the child.
For this reason, most parts of the country including Texas are seeing an increase in joint custody agreements where both parents are given equal power in deciding how a child is brought up. When it comes to fathers’ rights in family law, it is simply a way to ensure that men are treated fairly in custody agreements, since children need their fathers as much as they need their mothers.
If you are a father and you are going or have gone through a divorce, it is important that you consult with an attorney to take advantage of your rights. Every family has unique circumstances, and you need legal assistance that will grant your case the unique approach that it deserves.