Men’s Rights in Family Law

Men often have increased anxiety about family law matters. It is a common belief that women receive preferential treatment by courts in divorce, child custody, and other family law matters. This is a myth. Men and women have the same rights in family law proceedings.

Depending on the unique facts of a case, a man has the right to petition the court for all the same forms of legal relief as women; including:

• Sole physical custody or shared physical custody of the children;
• At-fault or no-fault divorce;
• Child support; and/or
• Alimony

It is imperative that a man is fully informed about his rights before addressing any family law issues. An experienced family law attorney can explain the overall legal process, legal challenges, and the rights of parties in the action.

Men’s Rights Family Lawyer in Chester County

If you are a male seeking child custody, child support, divorce, or any family law related relief, the attorneys at Ciccarelli Law Offices can fight for you. We use a team approach, using all of our experience to help our clients obtain the most favorable result based on his unique circumstances.

You can meet on-one-one with a dedicated Pennsylvania child custody lawyer at one of our many convenient meeting sites in West Chester, Philadelphia, Radnor, Lancaster, Plymouth Meeting, Kennett Square, Malvern, or Springfield.

Call (610) 692-8700 or send an online message for a free consultation so we can act as soon as possible. We are based in West Chester PA and serve clients throughout Chester County, Lancaster County and suburban Philadelphia including West Chester, Kennett Square, Oxford, West Grove, Paoli, Malvern, Downingtown, Coatesville, Exton, Parkesburg, Berwyn and Devon.  We have convenient meeting locations in Lancaster, Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Kennett Square, Malvern, Springfield, King of Prussia, and Radnor. Our family lawyers serve those with immediate legal needs in Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County and Lancaster County.

Men’s Rights in Family Law Resource Center

• Can a man seek alimony in a divorce action?
• Can a man seek physical custody of his child?
• Can a man petition for child support?

Can a man seek alimony in a divorce action?

Alimony is a regular payment made to the other spouse during and/or after a divorce proceeding. Customarily, alimony is granted to the spouse with significant financial need. Alimony can be granted to either the husband or wife.

The court does not consider the gender of the party when awarding alimony. Depending on the circumstances and the evidence provided to the court, a male may be granted alimony.

Pennsylvania courts must use the guidelines provided in Rule 1910.16-4 of the Pennsylvania Code to calculate alimony. The aforementioned rule provides only a guideline. Generally, courts consider several factors to determine whether this figure is appropriate, including the earning abilities of both spouses, needs of the spouse requesting alimony, and length of the marriage.

Should the court grant alimony, the receiving spouse can only receive payments for a reasonable time. The court may provide an exact date payments end or no date at all. If no date is provided in the order, the court may review and change the order should there be a change of circumstances.

Learn more about alimony here.

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Can a Man Seek Custody of his Child?

In child custody proceedings the court’s paramount concern is the health and welfare of the child. The court will grant whatever custody arrangement that consistent with the law and in the best interests of the child. Generally, the court desires to grant shared physical custody of the child to both parents.

However, the court will grant full physical custody to only one parent if it is in the best interest of the child. The court does not consider gender when making this determination. The court considers several factors to determine whether a particular custody arrangement is in the best interests of the child, including criminal history of the parents, ability to provide supervision and safeguards, and ability to care for the child’s emotional, physical, and developmental needs.

The court can consider nearly any fact it deems relevant to determine the best interest of the child and the appropriate custody arrangement. It is imperative to consult an experienced family law attorney to discuss rights and challenges if seeking custody of a child.

Learn more about child custody here.

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Can a Man Petition for Child Support?

It is a common misconception that child support payments are made to the mother of the child for the support of the child. This is not always the case. Both parents have a responsibility to financially support the child. Child support is generally awarded to the non-custodial parent or the parent with whom the child does not live.

As earlier discussed, child custody arrangements are made in the best interest of the party. It is possible that a father is designated as the custodial parent by the court. In these cases, the father will be entitled to receive child support from the mother of the child.

Learn more about child support here.

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Finding an Attorney for Men’s Rights in Pennsylvania

If you are a male facing any legal issue regarding your family, it is imperative to consult an experienced family law attorney. The attorneys at Ciccarelli Law Offices have substantial combined experience with assisting men to assert their rights in family law proceedings.

We work to defend the rights of men throughout West Chester, Downingtown, Coatesville, Lancaster, Lititz, Ephrata, Norristown, Villanova, King of Prussia, Media, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas. Call us today at Ciccarelli Law Offices or send an online message for a free consultation.