Father’s Rights

Not long ago, fathers could not fully participate in their children’s lives during and after divorce due to limited custody and visitation rights. Depending on the children’s ages, often fathers were little more than a footnote in a child custody equation. Fortunately, the laws today are more even-handed and the important role that a father plays in a child’s life is finally being appreciated by family law courts.

Regrettably, though the law may be neutral to the sexes in child custody matters, social norms and individual attitudes will take longer to change. The lawyers at Vacanti Shattuck Finocchiaro Attorneys have years of experience advocating for fathers rights in Nebraska. We are recognized by our peers and are consulted on legal issues regarding parental rights. Contact us to speak with an attorney.

The Benefits of Dual Parenting

The law has changed significantly in the last 15 years. The Nebraska Parenting Act now clearly states that the courts are to disregard gender when determining a parenting schedule. Additionally, there are new studies proving the benefits children gain from maximizing one-on-one time with both parents, so long as each parent is fit. This includes, in part:

• More happiness
• Better grades
• Less likelihood of legal troubles (like criminal activity)
• Lower illegal drug use
• Lower teen pregnancy
• Higher graduation rates
• Increased likelihood of success in life

Too often, unfortunately, children miss out on the benefits of spending time with each of his/her parents due to the hateful words and actions of one parent or the other.

The Parental Alienation Problem

Parental alienation can be the result of a mother or a father taking an unfortunate course of action in an attempt to protect the children. Often it occurs when mothers initially awarded primary custody try to keep the children away from their fathers. Because children want to please the parent they are with, they are susceptible to believing the mother’s reasoning when she is:

• Calling the father (or his significant other or the child’s half-siblings) profane names
• Denying the father visitation
• Making allegations of sexual abuse against the father
• Falsely accusing the father or other family members of domestic violence

By alienating fathers, mothers inadvertently impact the psychology of the children. Often, children subjected to parental alienation will have relationship problems with men for the rest of their lives.

Vacanti Shattuck Finocchiaro Attorneys Champions Fathers’ Rights

Our attorneys are concerned, first and foremost, that our client receives a child custody and visitation order that provides him with maximum parenting time and the strongest possible parent-child bond. Whether you are going through a divorce or have never been married to your child’s other parent, we will help you protect your rights as a parent. E-mail us or call us at (402) 454-7708.