If you have a child outside of marriage, you may be wondering what your rights are as a father. Establishing your paternal rights is important to both you and your child. Your child deserves to have both parents in his or her life. Financial support is only one of many reasons your child needs you. Your emotional support and love are even more important. In Maryland, there are two ways to establish paternity. You can file an Affidavit of Parentage or request a court order. Here are five steps to follow:
What to look for regarding possible divorce
Not all marriages will end happily ever after. That's the sad truth about the world today. People fall out of love with each other. They fall in love with others. They have arguments that seem to never end. Money problems get in the way of the relationship. Ideas of life together change. All of these are reasons that a marriage can end in divorce. But, do you know the signs of an impending divorce?
Show your kids that you care on child visitation days
After you've won the battle to prove paternity and gained the visitation rights you so desperately desire, what's next? It's time to enjoy your visitation days with your kids to the max! To help you connect with your kids on visitation days, you might want to try these ideas on for size:
Are married men earning more?
When people think of an ex-spouse paying alimony, it is sometimes easy to assume the man is the one paying the price. Stereotypical thoughts aside, this outdated perception is not so outdated, after all.
Preparing children for an upcoming divorce
Marriages end and couples split up in Maryland for any number of reasons. Some former spouses wish to cut their ex out of their life for good, but that isn't a viable or reasonable option for those who share children from the marriage. No matter the dynamic between the parents, the interests of children have to come first.
