Las Vegas Father's Rights Lawyers

Common Challenges Fathers Face

While Nevada law requires family courts to decide custody based on the best interests of the child, fathers often face unique challenges in protecting their parental rights. At Cohen Fic & Squires, we are committed to ensuring that fathers are treated as equal parents under the law.

Common issues fathers face include:

• Establishing paternity. An unmarried father must generally establish legal paternity before he can seek custody or parenting time. Taking prompt legal action is often the first step toward protecting a meaningful relationship with your child.
• Outdated assumptions. Although Nevada has no “tender years” or “tender baby” doctrine that favors mothers of young children, some fathers still encounter outdated beliefs during negotiations or litigation. The law recognizes that fathers are just as capable of caring for infants and young children. A father can feed a newborn with a bottle, soothe a crying baby, change diapers, attend medical appointments, and provide the same love, stability, and daily care as a mother. Custody decisions should be based on the child’s best interests, not outdated gender stereotypes.
• Primary caregiver arguments. A father who worked outside the home during the relationship should not be penalized for fulfilling his role as the family’s financial provider. Parenting involves far more than staying home with the children. Many fathers are deeply involved in their children’s lives by consistently attending parent teacher conferences, school events, extracurricular activities, medical appointments, helping with homework, transporting children to practices and activities, volunteering at school, and coaching their children’s sports teams. These are all meaningful acts of parenting and caring for a child. We work to demonstrate a father’s commitment, hands on involvement, and ability to meet the child’s physical, emotional, educational, and developmental needs, ensuring the court considers the full scope of his parenting contributions rather than relying on outdated notions of who was the “primary caregiver.”
• Parenting time interference. Some fathers encounter a parent who unreasonably limits, interferes with, or refuses court ordered parenting time. When necessary, we pursue enforcement through the court to protect a father’s relationship with his children.
• Relocation disputes. When a parent seeks to relocate with a child, time is critical. We represent fathers in contested relocation cases to preserve meaningful and frequent contact with their children whenever possible.
• Domestic violence against fathers. Fathers can also be victims of domestic violence, even though they may be less likely to report the abuse or seek help. Domestic violence affects not only the victim but also the safety and well being of the children. We help fathers obtain the legal protections they need while advocating for custody arrangements that promote a safe and stable environment for their children.

At Cohen Fic & Squires, we believe children benefit from having both parents actively involved in their lives whenever it is safe and appropriate. We fight to ensure fathers receive the equal treatment Nevada law requires and that custody decisions are based on evidence, not gender based assumptions.

Pursuing Joint or Primary Custody

Joint physical custody is a common and often preferred outcome in Nevada when it serves the child’s best interest, and fathers are just as entitled as mothers to seek an equal or substantial share of parenting time. In situations where primary custody is appropriate — including cases involving the other parent’s safety or stability concerns — fathers can pursue primary or sole custody as well.

Establishing Paternity as a First Step

For unmarried fathers, establishing legal paternity is often the necessary first step before custody or visitation rights can be formally pursued. Cohen Fic & Squires helps fathers move through this process efficiently, whether through voluntary acknowledgment or a contested court action.

Enforcing Your Parenting Time

When a father’s court-ordered parenting time isn’t being honored, enforcement action can address the problem directly — pursuing makeup time, modification of the existing order, or other remedies depending on the pattern and severity of the violations.

Why Choose Cohen Fic & Squires for Your Father’s Rights Case

• Direct experience helping fathers secure meaningful custody and parenting time
• Clear-eyed strategy for overcoming outdated assumptions in negotiation and court
• Efficient handling of paternity establishment when needed as a first step
• Firm enforcement action when a father’s parenting time isn’t being honored
• Representation for fathers throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, and Clark County

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Nevada courts favor mothers over fathers in custody cases?

No. Nevada law is gender-neutral and requires courts to decide custody based on the best interest of the child, without a presumption favoring either parent. Outcomes are based on the specific facts of each case, not the parent’s gender.

What custody rights does an unmarried father have?

An unmarried father generally has no enforceable custody rights until paternity is legally established. Once paternity is confirmed, he has the same right as any parent to pursue custody or parenting time based on the child’s best interest.

Can a father get joint physical custody in Nevada?

Yes. Joint physical custody is a common outcome in Nevada when it serves the child’s best interest, and fathers are entitled to seek an equal or substantial share of parenting time just as mothers are.

What can I do if the mother is withholding my parenting time?

If a parent is not complying with an existing custody or parenting time order, the other parent can file a motion to enforce the order, which can result in makeup time, a modification of custody, or other remedies depending on the severity and pattern of the violations.

Does a father need to be on the birth certificate to have custody rights?

Being listed on the birth certificate alone does not guarantee custody rights. Legal paternity generally must be established through a voluntary acknowledgment or court action before a father’s custody rights can be formally pursued and enforced.

How does child support work when a father has custody?

Child support in Nevada is calculated based on income, parenting time, and the needs of the child, regardless of which parent is the mother or father. A father with primary or majority custody may be entitled to receive support from the other parent.

Can a father get custody if the mother has substance abuse or safety issues?

Yes. Courts consider the fitness and stability of each parent as part of the best interest analysis, and documented safety concerns involving one parent can support a father’s request for primary or sole custody.