Paternity & Non-Married Parents Attorneys Serving Johnson County & the Kansas City Area
Your Family Doesn't Need a Marriage Certificate to Need a Plan
Your Family
Doesn't Need
a Marriage
Certificate to
Need a Plan
Parents don't have to be married for important legal questions to arise about their children. Establishing paternity, determining custody and parenting time, addressing child support, and defining each parent's legal rights and responsibilities can provide much-needed clarity and stability for everyone involved. At Walsh & Fahey, we help unmarried parents throughout Leawood, Johnson County, and surrounding Kansas communities understand their rights and create legal arrangements that protect their relationship with their children.
Whether you're establishing paternity for the first time, seeking a parenting plan, addressing financial support, or navigating a disagreement with your child's other parent, our goal is to resolve matters with as little unnecessary conflict as possible. We work toward practical solutions through negotiation and mediation whenever appropriate, while remaining prepared to advocate for you in court when an agreement cannot be reached. Throughout the process, we'll provide clear guidance focused on protecting your parental rights and your child's best interests.
Paternity & Non-Married Parent Matters We Handle
Our attorneys assist unmarried parents with a wide range of family law matters, including:
Establishing legal paternity
Child support
Contested paternity matters
Custody and parenting time modifications
Child custody
Enforcement of existing court orders
Parenting plans
Relocation matters
Parenting time
High-conflict parenting disputes
Creating clarity for your rights, responsibilities, and your child's future.
Paternity & Non-Married Parents FAQs
Why is establishing legal paternity important?
Establishing paternity legally recognizes the parent-child relationship and can affect important matters such as custody, parenting time, child support, inheritance rights, and other parental rights and responsibilities.
Do unmarried fathers automatically have custody rights in Kansas?
The rights of unmarried parents can depend on whether legal paternity has been established and whether custody or parenting orders are in place. Establishing paternity is an important step for a father seeking legally recognized parental rights.
Does establishing paternity automatically establish custody?
Not necessarily. Paternity establishes the legal parent-child relationship, but custody, parenting time, and other parental responsibilities may still need to be addressed through an agreement or court order.
Can an unmarried father seek parenting time?
Yes. Once the appropriate legal relationship has been established, a father may seek custody and parenting time. As with other custody matters, decisions involving children are generally based on their best interests.
Can unmarried parents create a parenting plan?
Yes. Unmarried parents can establish a parenting plan addressing matters such as parenting schedules, holidays, decision-making, transportation, and other issues involving their children. Having a clear legal agreement can help reduce misunderstandings and future conflict.
How is child support handled when parents aren't married?
A parent's obligation to financially support a child isn't dependent on whether the parents were married. Once the necessary legal requirements are established, child support can be calculated according to Kansas Child Support Guidelines.
Can custody or parenting time be changed later?
Yes. Families and children's needs change over time. Existing custody and parenting arrangements may be modified when the legal requirements for modification are met.
What happens if the other parent doesn't follow our parenting agreement?
If your custody or parenting arrangement is part of an enforceable court order, legal remedies may be available when the other parent fails to comply. The appropriate response depends on the circumstances and terms of the existing order.
What happens if one parent wants to move?
Relocation can significantly affect custody and parenting time arrangements and may involve specific legal requirements. It's important to understand your rights and obligations before making—or responding to—a relocation involving your child.
Do unmarried parents have to go to court?
Not every disagreement needs to become a contested court case. Many parents can reach agreements through negotiation or mediation and then take the appropriate steps to formalize those arrangements. When an agreement isn't possible, our attorneys are prepared to advocate for your parental rights in court.