Visitation rights are often granted to noncustodial dads or moms in divorce cases or if the child's parents are not married. If the parents are not married, either party may be interested in determining paternity. The mother may be interested in establishing paternity to collect child support, while the father may be interested in establishing paternity to gain visitation or custody rights.

Paternity may be established simply by acknowledging that one is the father at the birth of the child, or in some cases after the child is born. Other cases may require a genetic test to determine paternity involving the father, mother and child. As the route one should take in establishing paternity may vary, discussing your options with an attorney is highly recommended.

A Court Order may be necessary to protect one's visitation rights, especially in cases in which one is denied visitation rights by the custodial parent. The family law court will act in the best interests of the child in determining custody, visitation and support agreements. The family law judge may consider the financial situation of each parent, the age of the child and how much time each parent has to dedicate to raising the child. The child's own preferences are also considered.

A lawyer will be well-versed and experienced in the divorce and child custody laws of your state, so a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney is often very helpful in protecting your custody and visitation rights as a dad. State laws may vary from one state to another, so researching and consulting with an attorney regarding your state's laws is important.

In cases of divorce, protecting one's rights as a noncustodial parent involves ensuring the proper visitation rights are granted. Make your wishes known to the court and hire experienced legal counsel to guide you through the process.

Justin writes on many topics and agrees that you would be best helped by getting in touch with an experienced and professional Father's Rights Lawyer in your area. For people with a California Divorce Case involving children, visit the offices of Diefer Law Group.