Long Island Parental Rights Attorney

Protect Rights to Children in Suffolk & Nassau Counties 

Our firm has 150+ years' of combined experience and dedication to help you through these difficult and emotional times. Serving clients in Melville, Manhattan, and Southampton! 

Several years ago, it was assumed that it is in the child’s best interest to stay with the mother. Times have changed, and research shows that being raised by both parents is essential for the positive development of a child. Now, in New York, the rights of a father are more protected than ever before. Fathers have taken an increased role as a stay-at-home parent while women are working full-time jobs. Even if this is the case, the mother can still have a claim to custody of the child, and a father may still face an uphill battle regarding child custody, child support, and visitation.

Nothing is guaranteed, and therefore it is essential to have an experienced divorce attorney at your side from the very beginning to ensure you have the proper representation. In New York, both the mother and father hold the same rights in family matters regarding their children, and equal consideration is always given. Let Hedayati Law Group P.C. help you take the next step in defining your parental rights, whether that means establishing paternity or building a defense to your claim. Our Long Island family lawyers are here to provide the seasoned counsel you need.

Establishing Paternity May Be Necessary

In parental rights disputes, you will be at a significant disadvantage if you cannot show that you are the biological father of the child. If you have any reason to doubt that you are the biological father, you should begin taking steps to establish your paternity. On the other hand, if you have reason to doubt that you are the father and do not believe you should be responsible for child support due to this biological division, establishing paternity is also advantageous. Mothers may also want to establish the official paternity for this same reason.

To establish paternity, you will want or need to:

• Discuss the option with the other potential parent of the child.
• Request a petition for paternity establishment if no agreement is made.
• Submit to DNA testing – no blood testing is used anymore.

What Parental Rights Can Get You

As the parent of a child, you are entitled to certain rights as well as specific obligations. Perhaps most importantly than all others is your right to see and raise your child. People who do not retain their parental rights often report feeling at a loss or that something in their lives is missing; in other situations, they worry that their child is being taught lessons or behaviors that they disagree with. Remember what you are really fighting for in a parental right dispute, for it is more than child support payments and visitation schedules.