Your Child. Your Rights. Fight for Legal Fatherhood.

Generally, no. A valid Acknowledgment of Paternity (the form that puts you on the birth certificate) makes you the child’s legal father with all the rights and duties of a parent, but until a court orders otherwise, the mother has custody of a child born outside marriage. So to secure court-ordered parenting time, you need to file a paternity petition and obtain a custody order from a Tulsa County judge.

There are three main ways: a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) signed at the hospital or later, an administrative order through DHS, or a judicial paternity proceeding filed in district court. Filing in court is the strongest option because it allows you to establish fatherhood, custody, visitation, and child support all in one action.

Yes. Once you legally establish paternity, Oklahoma law treats unmarried fathers the same as married fathers for custody purposes. The court evaluates the best interests of the child. As a result, fathers who demonstrate involvement, stability, and a commitment to the child’s well-being have strong legal footing to obtain joint or even primary custody.

If the mother is withholding visitation, do not retaliate or cause a scene. Instead, document every denied visit, save all text messages and communications, and contact a Tulsa paternity attorney immediately. Then we can file a petition to establish custody and visitation, giving you a court-enforceable schedule that the mother must follow.

Oklahoma uses a specific calculator based on the gross income of both parents and the number of overnights the child spends with each parent. Securing more parenting time not only strengthens your bond with your child but can also adjust your support obligation. So we ensure the calculations reflect your actual situation fairly.