What are the legal custody rights of unmarried parents in Louisville? How are things handled for those who are living together without any formal legal agreements? Why should an unmarried father consider a paternity action? The Louisville-based family law firm of Dodd & Dodd provide sound counsel to unmarried clients who wish to protect their interests.
Generally speaking, there is no common law marriage recognized by the State of Kentucky. In other words, if two people live together anywhere in the Louisville area they do not have any of the legal rights and protections provided to those who are married.
Assets and accounts which are in the separate names of the parties will usually remain separate. Joint assets, such as a home purchased together by the parties, should be divided equally upon the separation of the couple. If the asset was held in the name of one party but the other contributed to payments, such as sharing the mortgage payment, the party not on title will need the legal counsel of the divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd if they wish to claim partial ownership of the asset. These issues will need to be heard by a Family Court.
The legal child custody and visitation rights of unmarried parents in Louisville can be a much more challenging issue. Generally speaking, an unmarried father does not have legal custody and visitation rights under Kentucky law. Therefore, the unmarried mother of a child can deny access to the child and even take the child and move out of the area or out of state. Unmarried fathers must establish their legal rights as a parent under a process known as establishing paternity in order to protect their legal standing and ability to make important decisions in the child’s life and ensure consistent visitation.
The legal custody rights of unmarried parents in Louisville and issues surrounding property and finances can be quite complex. This is why it is important to seek the sound advice and counsel of the experienced divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and contact us or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced divorce and family law attorneys.
