Kansas and Missouri Mother’s Rights Attorneys in Kansas and Missouri

A Trusted and Knowledgeable Advocate for Your Rights

Women that have worked so hard, for so long to fight for equal rights feel that a focus on Mother’s rights may seem out of date or out of place. If the law prohibits discriminating against men or women’s parenting rights on the basis of gender, why would a mom need special protection, rights or consideration? 

Even though the law has evolved to meet cultural changes in family law and in the work place, mother’s still have unique issues and rights that need to be considered and protected. Certainly, as a woman-owned law firm, we at Pingel Family Law are not supportive of gender stereo-typing and yet, many burdens and issues of parenting often fall on mothers, such as facilitating and locating work related child care if a mother works, traditionally having lower income earning ability either because of pay differences for gender or because you may have spent many years out of the work force being a stay-at-home mother or home-maker in focusing on raising the children. If you are facing any of these unique issues or concerns, allow our firm to give you knowledgeable and experienced guidance as you plan your life moving forward.

At Pingel Family Law, we are privileged to represent both mothers and fathers who are focused on being good parents and seeking the best interests of children in their parenting plan. We represent mothers in a variety of family law legal matters in Kansas and Missouri, including:

• Divorce or Dissolution of Marriage;
• Legal Separation;
• Child Custody;
• Spousal Support or Maintenance (what used to be known as alimony)
• Child Support;
• Marital Property Division;
• Post-Divorce Modification proceedings;
• Post-Divorce Enforcement, Contempt or Family Access proceedings;
• Paternity or Maternity actions (in lesbian relationships);
• Custodial Parent Relocations;
• Orders of Protection or other domestic violence situations;
• Military Divorce;
• Family Law Appeals;
• International Child Abduction
• Stepparent Adoption; and 
• Many other family law actions;

What Rights Do Unwed or Unmarried Mothers Have in Missouri and Kansas?

An unwed or unmarried mother automatically has custody of her child at the time she gives birth to the child. The Mother has the automatic rights and responsibilities for her child. This includes providing or ensuring that basic needs are met for her child, both physically and financially, as well as the responsibility to make important decisions for the child such as the child’s medical decisions or treatment, living arrangements, among other things.

In the absence of a court order providing or establishing a legal father for the child, the mother has the automatic right to determine the decisions and obligations of third parties to her child. This includes the father. The mother has the initial right to determine what, if any, parenting time or visitation a father has with the child. This also means that an unmarried mother does not have an automatic right to receive child support, but rather, needs to establish paternity in order to seek to hold a father accountable for this responsibility.

Protecting the Legal Rights of Mothers in Missouri and Kansas

At Pingel Family Law, whether you are a married mother with children and facing divorce, or unmarried and you need to seek child support or other financial support from the other parent of your child, it is our privilege to help you with these difficult and complex issues. Let us help you ensure that your maternal rights are determined in accordance with Kansas or Missouri law.  Time is of the essence! Call us today for a consultation at (816) 208-8130.