In Arizona, in order for unmarried men to assert their father's rights, they will often have to first prove paternity. This generally must be done in order to settle child support disputes, or claim a right to child custody or parenting time. Most often, paternity is determined through a blood test after the birth of a child, but scientific advances may soon make prenatal paternity tests available here in the Phoenix area.
Arizona is among states leading expansion of father's rights
When it comes to child custody and visitation, Arizona courts have historically favored mothers. This has happened for decades throughout the country, as mental-health experts, judges and other professionals tended to agree that while fathers should play some sort of role in a child's upbringing, the child should be brought up in one home and the mother should be the main caregiver. However, father's rights have advanced over the years in Arizona.
Arizona bill would expand fathers' custody rights
In Arizona and in many other states, mothers are typically somewhat favored in custody disputes. This is true both in divorce cases and in the cases of children born to unmarried couples. A bill in the Arizona Legislature, which has passed in the Senate, would grant full custody rights to fathers in out-of-wedlock cases. The father would need to be listed on the child's birth certificate, or both parents would need to have acknowledged paternity, for the case to fall under this potential law.
