Over one half of the children in the United States are born to parents who are not married. The majority of non-married custody and visitation cases follow the same laws and patterns of married custody cases. In general, a court is will assess what is in the minor child's best interest to determine custody and visitation/parenting time. The parent who is not the primary parent will also likely be ordered to pay child support.
In Kentucky, child support is governed by KRS 403.211 and KRS 402.212. The Courts rely upon the Kentucky Child Support Guidelines in order to determine the proper amount of child support. In many cases, under the right circumstances, Attorney Louis P. Winner will request that the Court deviate from the guidelines. Attorney Winner provides skilled guidance in child custody and visitation for unmarried parents in Louisville and throughout Jefferson and Oldham counties of Kentucky.
In Kentucky, the Court presumes a child's biological father to be the person listed on his or her birth certificate. In cases where the parentage of the child is in question — whether due to the lack of a father's signature on the birth certificate or because either parent has reason to believe the person listed is not the child's biological father — a paternity action and DNA test may be required. Once the true parentage of the child is confirmed, normal custody and support actions may proceed.
To learn more about child custody for unmarried parents and how you can protect your parental rights, contact Louisville family lawyer Louis P. Winner to discuss your concerns.