If you are a parent who never married your child or children’s other parent, and you are separating from the other parent, you have certain legal rights of which you need to be aware. In this area of the law it is important to know and understand that there are different rights depending on whether you are a mother or a father. While there is no gender preference in Washington State law when it comes to the custody of children (the consideration of the best interests of the child should not include a gender consideration), there are certain differences in how a mother or father must legally approach the situation. What is universal is the importance of understanding the law in this type of situation and how it applies to you.
At Harbor Family Law we have vast experience in helping mothers understand their rights in the area of both residential custody arrangements and child support issues.
We also have experience in helping fathers understand their rights and how to go about seeking custodial rights for their child or children. This includes becoming legally declared to be the father of a child, which does not happen automatically if you are not married to the mother. Establishing this relationship quickly can be crucial to preserving custodial rights.
Whether you are the mother or the father, you need to recognize how the court will likely view your case and what you can expect as you separate from the other parent. We have extensive experience helping parents navigate this difficult and sometimes confusing process. Let us help you understand your unique rights and establish a new normal for you and your loved ones that is fair and appropriate.
Experience on Your Side
Chris Maharry has been practicing family law in the South Sound since 2003 and brings nearly two decades of experience with paternity cases. We understand how difficult it can be to deal with paternity questions as parents go their separate ways. It is our goal to bring our clients through the process with efficiency, effectiveness, compassion and cost-sensitivity.
Managing Your Legal Separation Case in A Cost-Effective Manner
We focus our practice exclusively on family law. This narrow focus has allowed us to develop not only extensive knowledge in the area of family law, but also business practices making us as efficient as possible, which keeps our clients’ costs to a minimum while maintaining a high level of representation. We cannot guarantee the cost of fees involved in any legal case; however, all our work is performed with the goal of being effective and efficient.
Area of Coverage
We serve clients paternity cases throughout the Pierce, Kitsap, and South King County areas.
