Fathers Rights

Our law firm, Joel C. Zimmerman & Associates, Ltd., in Tinley Park and Chicago, Illinois, has been assisting fathers in obtaining the rights to their children for more than 25 years. Joel C. Zimmerman is an experienced Tinley Park attorney with substantial experience in fathers' rights who is willing to provide fathers with individualized services that help them understand their best legal course of action.

Fathers, You Have Rights and Responsibilities

Fathers have the right to pursue custody or have visitation time with their children; however, if you are an unmarried father, you might have to go through some extra steps to get access to your child.

In pursuing those rights, it is important to know you may have the following available to you:

• You have a right to an attorney.
• You have the right to a hearing on paternity and custody.
• You have the right to a DNA test.
• If the DNA test is positive, you have the right to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP).
• If VAP was previously signed and the DNA test is negative, you may also have options regarding paternity.
• You have the same rights with regard to child custody as the mother.
• You have the same rights of custody and visitation.
• You may have an obligation to help pay the following:
• Child support.
• Educational expenses, beginning with day care expenses.
• Health insurance.
• Uncovered medical, dental and optometric expenses.

What Obligations Do I Have as a Father Under the Law?

If you are the father of a child, you have a number of obligations and privileges under Illinois law. A paternity action addresses a number of different fathers' rights. First and foremost, it determines whether a man is the father of a child. Second, it addresses custody, visitation and support of that child. In your paternity action, we will consider all of these issues and have them addressed to the court so that you can finally pursue your custody and visitation rights with your child.