Fathers can create a strong bond with their children, and many fathers hope to remain an important part of their lives even after they do not need direct care. However, when it comes to child custody in Massachusetts, some parties may feel that a father’s rights need more attention. Recent cases have brought the issue of potential difficulties that fathers have in gaining custody of their children. Some parties still believe that fathers are not being treated fairly when it comes to having a say in what happens with their children. In some cases, fathers have expressed dismay at the fact that some mothers are allowed to put children up for adoption without the consent of the father. Typically, these cases arise when the parents are not in a standing, lawful relationship, which can make custody more difficult to navigate. Unmarried fathers face many more steps when it comes to seeking custody of their children. Unfortunately, they may also face less successful results than those fathers who were married to the children’s mother. Though steps toward more equal standards for mothers and fathers are evolving for child custody, unmarried fathers may still encounter hardships. In order to have a better chance for a favorable outcome when it comes to fighting for a father’s rights during child custody, concerned parties may wish to become more knowledgeable on the subject. Looking into information available in Massachusetts could allow a father to better understand certain steps he may need to take. Reaching an

Massachusetts readers may be interested in actor Jason Patric’s battle for the right to be a constant presence in the life of his 4-year-old son. In a custody fight turned ugly, Patric says he doesn’t want to be just a sperm donor. He wants full father’s rights as a co-parent and is willing to go to court to make it happen. According to Patric, he and his ex-girlfriend tried to conceive for several years to no avail. They then opted for in vitro fertilization. Their son, Gus, was the result. Patric asserts he was not merely a sperm donor. He says he is being denied access to his son because he is no longer in a relationship with the child’s mother. His ex-girlfriend denies that is the motivation. She says Patric offered to be a sperm donor and agreed to relinquish his rights as a father. Shortly after the two split, Patric reportedly began losing access to his son. In response, he filed a paternity case seeking custody of the boy, who was 2 years old at the time. Just under a year later, the court ruled that Patric was, in fact, not the natural father due to the in vitro fertilization process used to facilitate the pregnancy. Patric has since appealed the ruling and is awaiting a hearing scheduled for early spring. Patric says he once had a loving relationship with his child and that he wants to regain that closeness. If successful, his appeal could have a positive

Recently released data suggests that the rate of divorce filings among military couples has decreased in 2013. According to newly reported Defense Department data, divorce rates have fallen one tenth of a percent. However, divorce among families of enlisted service members still outpaces that of officers. The overall decrease in divorce filings is great news for Massachusetts military families. However, for parents who decide to end their marriage, fathers’ rights concerns are particularly troublesome for men in the military. While our nation extends a great deal of support and admiration for the men and women who serve within the armed forces, there are areas in which military service can actually serve as a detriment. Child custody is one example in which the decision to serve can lead to legal difficulties. Many men who have chosen to pursue a military career encounter difficulties when trying to assert their parental rights in a family court. One issue that military fathers frequently face involves the risk of deployment. In many cases, mothers and their attorneys are able to convince a court that the risk of deployment is a significant factor in awarding full or joint child custody to a man who serves within the military. As a result, fathers in this position can find that their ultimate child custody arrangement is not on par with that which a non-military parent could reasonably expect. For those who are passionate about remaining actively involved in the lives of their children after a Massachusetts divorce, this