In some situations, fathers accept reduced parenting time to settle a custody dispute without litigating. They may worry they cannot meet their child’s needs at the time when they leave the family home or end a relationship. Other times, a judge might limit their parenting time because of challenging personal circumstances.
Men may eventually want to spend more time with their children despite the imbalanced allocation of parenting time in their custody order. How can fathers increase their parenting time?
Pursue a custody modification
It is possible to change a custody order with the consent of both parents. There are many modifications that can allow for more time with the children. Sometimes, fathers have demanding careers or other obligations that prevent them from consistently having parenting time.
However, they could request the right of first refusal in scenarios where the mother might acquire child care for the children. The father then has the option of increasing his parenting time whenever the mother cannot directly care for the children. The mother benefits from reducing childcare expenses as well.
Men who pursue better jobs, stabilize their housing arrangements, address substance abuse or complete parenting classes can address issues that may have led to the limitation of their parental rights previously. They can then either pursue an uncontested modification by working with the mothers of their children or a litigated modification where they ask a judge to change the arrangements based on their improved circumstances.
Fathers have rights under the law, and children often benefit from maintaining healthy relationships with their fathers. Custody modifications are a common way to secure more parenting time. Seeking increased parenting time can be a smart decision for fathers who initially received minimal time with their children, and now want more.