Parental Rights

One of the most challenging parts of having a child and being unmarried, going through a breakup, or getting a divorce, is having to fight for parental rights. For most parents, it is crucial to be a part of their child's life and take part in making decisions that will help mold them into adults. It is these parents that are the sole reason why we work in family law because we believe every good parent should be involved in their child’s life. At Koontz Law, we will fight for our clients and their families so that they may stay as functional as possible. We seek to aid all parties in being able to agree on the proper route to take for the well-being of their children. 

What Are Parental Rights?

In layman’s terms, parental rights are a parent’s right to make critical and important decisions for their child or children. These rights also include the ability to take actions on behalf of their kin. Parental rights tend to apply automatically to the biological parents but can also be applied to adoptive parents, foster parents, and legal guardians. Parental rights were created with the intent of protecting and ensuring the well-being of any child involved so their best interests are always kept at the forefront. Parental rights additionally include child support, custody agreements, and visitation rights.

Parental Rights in North Carolina

At Koontz Law, we take parental rights very seriously and are committed to helping each party in this situation achieve their desired results. In North Carolina, if a case is taken to the courts, many parental rights cases are deemed solely on the parents' caretaking abilities and potential, behavior patterns, and personal life interests. However, most cases can be handled outside of the court and agreed upon in a civil manner between both parties. When it comes to the child or children involved, we seek to help our client achieve their desired result so they can continue on creating a good life for their kin. It is also important to note that prior to any parental rights or custody trial that both parties must participate in mediation before attending. This mediation is paid for by the state of North Carolina and mandated in hopes of creating a better environment for a conversation to begin taking place.

Visitation 

Custody and visitation often go hand in hand, in that both are decided at the time the custody agreement is settled. Visitation is what the secondary parents' time spent with the child is called. In North Carolina, it is very hard for a noncustodial parent to be denied visitation rights, as long as the child is still being well taken care of during that time. If a situation arises where the child might be put in harm's way, a judge may require visitation to be supervised. This is again only to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. Furthermore, child support and visitation rights do not tie together. The custodial parent can not forbid the noncustodial parent from seeing the child if child support has not been paid. 

Common Parental Rights Questions

When it comes to parental rights, many parents want to be well-informed on these laws. It is understandable to wish to comprehend all knowledge regarding this topic as your children are what is most important to you. While the process of obtaining parents rights can be a long one, with a dedicated team on your side, you can rest assured knowing your case will be handled professionally and with utmost importance. At Koontz Law, we seek to help our clients anyway we can and are confident in our ability to do so. Below, we have answered some common questions many parents seeking rights have asked us.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any other questions you have regarding your parental rights. Our knowledgeable attorneys are here to help in any way we can.

Protecting Your Parental Rights

For almost a decade, Koontz Law has helped parents in the Piedmont Triad area obtain the parental rights they deserve. Brandy’s commitment to excellence has allowed her to help many families move forward with their changing circumstances while ensuring the children will receive the best care possible after settlement. When you are fighting for your parental rights, Koontz Law will always be there to assist you. Contact us for a parental rights consultation today.