What Rights Do I Have As A Parent?
You have rights and responsibilities as a parent, and you continue to have them even if you get a divorce. If your ex does not respect those rights, that’s a problem that needs to be swiftly dealt with. Our Morristown custody & parenting time attorneys can help you address any legal issues and hold your ex accountable.
What Are the Rights and Responsibilities of a Parent?
Parents have rights, but they also have a long list of responsibilities. Parents should be able to:
- Have input on major decisions about the lives of their children, like decisions relating to education, healthcare, and religious upbringing
- Spend time with their children
- Leave property to their children through an inheritance
- Make rules and set disciplinary boundaries within reason
These rights also come with some obligations though. A parent needs to:
- Provide a safe environment for their children
- Provide for the basic needs of their children, like food and shelter
- Ensure that their children are getting any medical care that they need
- Make sure that your children have access to educational opportunities
- Support positive relationships between children and others
Parents who don’t live up to their responsibilities may end up having their parental rights taken away.
Can Getting a Divorce Affect Your Rights as a Parent?
It shouldn’t in most cases. A family court judge will usually still see maintaining a relationship with both parents as in the best interests of the children. This means that you should share joint legal custody, allowing you to continue to weigh in on the big decisions about your children. Even if you do not receive primary physical custody, a visitation and child custody agreement should be worked out that allows you to spend time with your children.
The only time a divorce should affect your parental rights is if you have made it clear that you cannot live up to your parental responsibilities. If you were abusive or neglectful, you may not be allowed to play a continued role in the lives of your children without making some big changes.
Can Someone Willingly Give Up These Rights?
There are also situations where someone willingly gives up their rights as a parent. This is most common in situations where one parent remarries and a stepparent wants to formally adopt their stepchild. If a biological parent can be convinced to give up their rights, then a stepparent who adopts their stepchild would be seen as the legal parent in the eyes of the law. This also means that the biological parent gives up any responsibilities, including financially supporting the child.
Meet With Our Attorneys
If you think that your rights as a parent are being ignored or violated, you need to do something. Contact Lazor Rantas, PC to schedule a consultation and learn more about all of your legal options. We want to help you make things right.
