by Rebecca Williams

Created on: August 06, 2008

Child custody laws can be a hard thing to deal with unless you have the right people, information and the right mind to take on. This is an issue that many tread lightly and some are hard pressed upon. I for one has never been in the situation where I had problems with custody laws. In most cases, the court will award the kids to the mother unless she is deemed unfit. The laws of today have become more strict in handling such cases. In the state of Texas, a mother is awarded sole custody until the presumed biological father seeks and interest in custody. It doesn't matter if the mother chooses not to have the fathers name added to the birth certificate, it still doesn't stop the court from awarding joint custody. In Oklahoma; a mother is given sole custody if the parents of the child isn't married. Michigan; It is presumed that the mother has initial custody regardless of both parents name is on the birth certificate or not or have a formal acknowledge of parentage signed.. Anyone seeking information regarding this particular situation should research their states laws regarding this. There are many things an unwed parent should pay attention to such as; statutes regarding children being born out of wedlock, the establishment of paternity, child support custody which have guidelines that each parent of the child should follow and if any of the guidelines are breached it is a contemp of that child support order. Visitation rights and establishing a parenting plan are also key points in that child support order. There are a few things an unwed parent must take in account when it is a custody issue, both parties must abide by what the court suggests. This is an emotional battle that unwed parents can face. Sometimes for the welfare of the child may be in question and the mother or father may not be awarded custody, this is where the state can come in and take custody. There are some things to look at being an unwed mother. An unwed father usually cannot win custody from a mother who is a good parent but he may have priority over other relatives, foster parents, or strangers who want to adopt his child. There have to be a dire situation to proce a parent unfit to care for the child or children. If a parent is seeking custody, the government must provide the unwed parents the step to come forward. That is why laws have been changed and many states have adopted a standard that places primary emphasis on the best interests of the child To everyone that seek information for this situation, I suggest that you research state laws and if it is a court ordered decision from the attorney general, contact your local office for further information and help.

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