Going through divorce proceedings, child custody battles or child support disputes may prove to be a challenging endeavor for some parents. These cases may be stressful or emotionally taxing for some, preventing them from focusing all of their energy on their case.

Moreover, many states may have different laws regarding family matters, making the process all the more confusing for some people. An affordable family law attorney may be quite helpful in guiding their clients through their legal proceedings.

Let's use California as an example. Determining one's rights in regards to child custody, child support and visitation rights may be confusing. Much depends on whether the child was born in or out of wedlock. If the child was born in wedlock, fathers may face a much easier road in terms of exercising their visitation or custody rights.

Mothers, on the other hand, may deny the father visitation rights unless a Court says otherwise in cases where the baby has been born out of wedlock. Either party may request a DNA test to determine the father of the baby. Women who want to collect child support for a child born out of wedlock must file a Petition to Establish Parentage and an Order to Show Cause for child support.

Men seeking custody, visitation rights or even monetary support for their child must file the same papers to achieve these rights if their child was born out of wedlock. A Court often takes several factors into account when making a decision regarding custody, child support and visitation. Generally, the Court will not deny the father visitation rights unless it is determined that it is in the child's best interest that the father is not granted such rights.

Of course, these laws may vary depending on the state in which the parents reside. An affordable attorney specializing in family law may provide further insight as to the rights of parents in terms of visitation, custody and child support.