Fathers' Rights

Fathers’ Rights Attorney in Montgomery County

Equal Rights Under Pennsylvania Law. We Make Sure They Hold Up in Court.

Pennsylvania custody law carries no gender presumption. Fathers have the same right as mothers to seek shared custody, sole custody, or defined parenting time, and courts evaluate every request using the best interests of the child standard. That equal footing is real, but exercising it effectively requires knowing how to document your involvement, navigate the Montgomery County court process, and present your case persuasively. That’s where we come in.

Our firm, Shemtob Draganosky Taylor Stein, PC, concentrates entirely on divorce and family law. We represent fathers at every stage of life and every stage of a relationship: married, separated, divorced, and unmarried. Whether you’re pursuing an initial custody order or working to protect an existing arrangement, we learn the full picture of your situation and carry it into every negotiation and into the courtroom.

If you’re a father with questions about your custody rights in Montgomery County, call us at (215) 544-3974 to schedule a confidential consultation.

How We Represent Fathers in Custody Disputes

Fathers come to us with a wide range of custody concerns. Some are going through divorce and need an initial custody arrangement established. Others have an order in place that’s being ignored or need to modify terms because circumstances have changed. We handle all of it.

Situations we handle on behalf of fathers include:

Initial custody orders for both shared and sole legal and physical custody arrangements
Custody modifications when there’s been a material change in circumstances affecting the child’s welfare
Visitation enforcement when the other parent is denying or interfering with court-ordered parenting time
Relocation disputes under 23 Pa.C.S. § 5337, which requires a relocating parent to give advance written notice and, if the other parent objects, to obtain court approval before moving
Paternity & custody rights for unmarried fathers seeking to establish legal standing before pursuing parenting time

Our custody practice also includes grandparents’ rights and third-party custody matters, so our attorneys are well-versed in the full range of parental standing questions that can arise. We pursue negotiation and alternative dispute resolution when that path serves our client’s goals, and we’re prepared to litigate when it doesn’t.

What to Expect from the Montgomery County Custody Process

Custody cases in Montgomery County are handled by the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas, with filings going through the Prothonotary’s Office at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. Before a case moves forward, both parties are generally required to complete a Mediation Orientation session and a Parenting Program. The orientation carries a combined fee of $200 for both parties; the Parenting Program is $60 per party. These amounts are subject to change. The Mediation Orientation may be waived in cases involving a history of abuse within the preceding 24 months.

After those steps, the court schedules a Custody Conciliation Conference before a court-appointed attorney conciliator. Children don’t attend. If the parties don’t reach an agreement, the case proceeds to a Short List Hearing before a judge and, if still unresolved, to a full protracted hearing. Throughout that process, judges weigh each parent’s involvement, stability, and demonstrated commitment to the child’s welfare. Our attorneys know this system and guide fathers through each stage so you’re not walking in blind.

Talk to a Fathers’ Rights Attorney in Montgomery County

Your relationship with your children matters, and you don’t have to navigate this alone. We serve fathers throughout Montgomery County, the Main Line, and the surrounding region from our Blue Bell office. Call us at (215) 544-3974 or reach us through our online contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.

What Pennsylvania Courts Weigh in a Father’s Custody Case

When a Montgomery County judge applies the best interests of the child standard, the evaluation covers a specific list of statutory factors. Understanding them helps a father know where to focus his preparation and what the court will be looking for.

Key factors in Pennsylvania’s custody analysis include:

Willingness to support the other parent’s relationship with the child, which courts weigh heavily
Home stability and each parent’s day-to-day availability to care for the child
The child’s relationships with siblings and extended family members in each household
Co-parenting cooperation on decisions about school, healthcare, and extracurricular activities
The child’s own preference, when the child is of sufficient age and maturity for the court to consider it
Any history of domestic violence, substance abuse, or other conduct affecting the child’s safety, evaluated in context

Documented involvement is one of the most concrete forms of evidence a father can present. School pickups, medical appointments, attendance at activities, and daily routines all speak to active participation in a child’s life. Consistent payment of any existing child support obligation is another factor courts may consider when assessing a parent’s commitment. Coming into proceedings with organized records and a clear account of your role can put you in a stronger position from the start.

Paternity & Custody Rights for Unmarried Fathers in Montgomery County

For an unmarried father, legal paternity is the foundation everything else rests on. Without it, there are no enforceable custody or parenting time rights, regardless of the actual relationship with the child.

When a child is born to an unmarried mother, parental rights for the father aren’t automatic. Paternity can be established voluntarily when both parents sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or it can be established by court order. Either parent can file a Petition to Determine Paternity at any time until the child turns 18. If paternity is contested, the court can order DNA testing.

A father who wants to challenge an existing paternity presumption faces specific procedural deadlines and requirements, which is why consulting an attorney promptly matters. Once paternity is legally established, a father can seek child custody, visitation, and parenting time through the Montgomery County family court on the same basis as any other parent.

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Vigorously Representing Clients to Achieve Their Goals

Former Clients Say It Best

"Highly experienced, client-focused and efficient service"

I appreciated David Draganosky’s informed guidance and willingness to move forward diligently, which set the stage for a favorable resolution. Your firm’s reputation for highly experienced, client-focused and efficient service is well-deserved.

- Former Client
I was wary about my rights as a father with my children and concerned about having enough time with them during the week and for holidays and breaks from school. Your help in hammering out a very detailed and fair custody agreement was appreciated more tha

- Former Client
Lori Shemtob and her associates were the perfect choice. Lori has the perfect demeanor to defuse any volatile situation.

- Former Client
Cynthia’s practical knowledge of negotiation and the law helped me in a tense situation where my ex-husband did not want me to take the kids with me and then refused to pay any support.

- Former Client

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A Family Law Firm Built for Cases That Matter

When a father’s relationship with his children is at stake, the quality of legal representation matters. Shemtob Draganosky Taylor Stein, PC concentrates its entire practice on divorce and family law, bringing over 100 combined years of experience to every case. Our attorneys aren’t generalists handling custody disputes between contracts and commercial matters. This is all we do.

Credentials That Serve Fathers Directly

Founding partner Lori K. Shemtob is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a distinction held by fewer than 75 family law attorneys in Pennsylvania. She has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer every year since 2006, served as President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the AAML for the 2017-2018 term, and is one of only 14 attorneys in Pennsylvania certified by the AAML as a family law arbitrator. That last credential matters practically for fathers: it means we can pursue arbitration as a binding resolution path without referring clients to outside neutrals.

Andrew D. Taylor was elected Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section in July 2026, reflecting the firm’s active presence in the Pennsylvania family law community at the state level. Our attorneys also regularly speak and teach about family law at civic groups and bar associations, which keeps our knowledge current and positions our team as contributors to the field, not just practitioners in it. Shemtob Draganosky Taylor Stein, PC has been recognized among the well-regarded family law firms in Pennsylvania.

Boutique Service Backed by Large-Firm Experience

We built this firm on large-firm experience with a commitment to boutique service. Every father who comes to us gets attorneys who learn his story in full detail and carry those details into court and to the negotiation table. That’s the difference between a firm that processes cases and one that handles them.

Negotiation, Mediation, & Collaborative Law for Fathers

Litigation isn’t always the right path, and for fathers focused on long-term co-parenting, it’s sometimes the wrong one. When both parties are willing to engage in good faith, alternative dispute resolution can produce custody arrangements that are tailored to a family’s actual schedule and dynamics rather than a judge-imposed order.

How ADR Works in Custody Disputes

Collaborative law brings both parents and their attorneys together to reach agreements through structured, open communication, keeping decision-making with the parents rather than delegating it to the court. Mediation offers a similar benefit: a neutral mediator helps both parties negotiate in a setting that tends to be less adversarial than litigation and better suited to the ongoing cooperation that serves children well over time. Any agreement reached through either process can be submitted to the court for approval and entered as a court order, giving it full enforceability.

Lori K. Shemtob is both an AAML-certified family law arbitrator and a family law mediator, so we bring genuine in-house ADR capability to fathers considering these paths. We don’t treat ADR as a default or as a way to avoid hard conversations. We evaluate it honestly against the facts of each case.

When Litigation Is the Right Answer

Some situations call for court. When the other parent won’t cooperate, when there’s a history of domestic violence or abuse, or when an existing custody order is being violated, litigation may be necessary and appropriate. As fathers’ rights attorneys, we can help you assess which approach fits your situation and are prepared for either.

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Our FAQ

Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 215-544-3974 today!

How long has same-sex marriage been legal in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has recognized same-sex marriages since May 2014 when a U.S. federal district court judge ruled that Pennsylvania’s 1996 statutory ban on the recognition of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Before then, Pennsylvania prohibited same-sex marriage and refused to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. In June 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that all states must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize same-sex marriages validly performed in other jurisdictions. This significant decision legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States.
What Should I Do Before Contacting Your Firm?

It can help to gather key documents, such as basic financial records and any existing custody paperwork, and to think about your main concerns and goals. You do not need everything perfectly organized. Our role is to help you sort through information and identify next steps during the consultation.
Are Same-Sex Divorces Treated Differently Under Pennsylvania Law?

Pennsylvania law applies the same divorce and custody standards to same-sex and different-sex spouses. That said, the history of your relationship and parentage can raise unique questions. We pay close attention to those details and advocate for fair treatment of your family within the existing legal framework.

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Reputable & Trusted Family Law Attorneys

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What Drives Our Firm

Experienced. Strategic. Focused.

We Know the Law & Learn the Facts

We learn your story and we live it. Our team prides themselves on listening and learning every fine detail. More importantly, we remember those details in court and at the negotiation table. When you put your case in our hands, we provide you with the personal attention and commitment you and your case deserve.
Information Powers Outcomes
Our attorneys believe it is their duty to empower and educate people about their rights in divorce. Propelled by a responsibility to give back to the community, several divorce lawyers within the firm regularly speak and teach at civic groups and bar associations.
Reputable & Trusted Family Law Attorneys
Named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer each year since 2006, the firm’s founder, Lori K. Shemtob, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) — an esteemed honor held by only 74 family law lawyers in all of Pennsylvania. She served as AAML’s President of the Pennsylvania Chapter from July 2016 through July 2017.
From Big Firm to Boutique Firm

Our story begins with a group of lawyers who came from big firms with a passion to create a better experience for our clients. Each lawyer's knowledge and experience contribute to innovative strategies in court and settlement negotiations. Our commitment to excellence takes our divorce and family law firm well beyond the ordinary.