Child Support

• Where a father has been divorced, separated, or remains single, his rights still remain, including the right to contribute to his child's care. Child support, in legal terms, is most often limited to regular financial contributions toward child maintenance expenses, especially in the case of divorce. The courts compel fathers to pay support through custody and child support laws. Failing to pay as ordered can lead to garnishment--the forced deduction of payment for child support from the parent's income.
  
  

Child Visitation

• A non-custodial father has a right to quality time with his children. Family courts honor both the father and mother as equal entities who can provide care and support for their children. Visitation rights are owed to the non-custodial father, as long as he is not a threat to the life and health of the child. In child custody decisions, parents must come to an agreement on a timetable for visitation.
  
  

Paternity Leave

• Paternity leave allows the father of a newborn or any child to take time off from work in order to support and nurture his child. Although much shorter than maternity leave, paternity leave gives the non-custodial father the opportunity to bond with the child and share in the responsibilities of being a father. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Compliance Manual, an employer "may not deny paternity leave to a male employee for the purpose of preparing for, participating in, or caring for the newborn." The Supreme Court has also ruled in the Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs, 538 U.S. 721 (2003), that discrimination against male caregivers is illegal, so the father is entitled to paternity leave to care for his offspring.