Massachusetts

Fathers rights in Massachusetts are protected by law. You’ve got equal legal rights with the mother. Your rights relate to paternity, custody and child support.

Paternity: Massachusetts fathers rights allow you to seek to establish paternity of the child. At your petition, the court will order testing to be done. If you are proven to be the father, the mother may not make major decisions affecting the child without your input and consent.

Custody: The law gives you the right to seek custody of your children. Custody takes several forms including sole or joint physical custody or at the very least, the protection of regular and frequent visitation with your children. Custody also means that you play a central role in all decisions related to how the children are raised including their education, lifestyle, religious upbringing, participation in activities such as sports or music, and more.

Child Support: Your fathers rights in Massachusetts give you the right to seek child support from the mother. If you’ve got joint or sole custody, the court may award you child support payments from the mother after a financial evaluation.

These are your Massachusetts fathers rights. If you have questions or need help obtaining them, a lawyer with experience in working for fathers rights in Massachusetts will be able to help.