Fathers' Rights Attorney in Westchester County

Protecting Your Role As A Father When Everything Feels Uncertain

When a custody dispute, divorce, or accusation threatens your time with your children, it can feel like your entire life is under attack. If you are looking for a fathers' rights attorney in Westchester County who understands these concerns and knows how to address them, you are in the right place.

At Riebling & Payton, PLLC, we work with fathers who are facing custody, visitation, support, and related issues that can affect their parental rights. Our attorneys take the time to understand your relationship with your children and what matters most to you, then we build a strategy aimed at protecting that bond. 

From our offices in Mount Kisco and White Plains, we guide fathers through the courts in this county and nearby New York City and the Bronx. Our firm is led by attorneys Stephen Riebling and Marcia Payton, who bring nearly 50 years of combined legal experience in criminal defense, family law, and divorce.

Your children deserve to have their father in their lives. Secure a fathers’ rights attorney in Westchester County who has the experience and the drive to win. Call Riebling & Payton, PLLC at (914) 712-6878 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Key Issues We Help Fathers Navigate

Some of the recurring questions fathers bring to us include:

• Time with children and how to secure a parenting schedule that reflects their involvement.
• Decision-making authority for education, medical care, and other major issues.
• Relocation challenges when one parent wants to move farther from this county.
• Long-term impact of allegations involving substance use or domestic incidents.

We help fathers pursue joint custody arrangements where appropriate, secure meaningful parenting time that reflects their involvement, and address details such as holiday schedules, vacations, and transportation. Enforcement and modification are also critical for many fathers.

Financial issues, including child support and in some cases spousal maintenance, affect a father’s ability to maintain a stable home for the children. While support guidelines exist, judges can consider a range of factors. Because we know how these issues are handled locally, we can explain what courts in this county commonly consider.

Establishing Your Legal Standing

For a father to exercise his rights in Westchester County, legal paternity (parentage) must first be established. Without this, a father has no legal standing to request custody or visitation. 

Under current New York law, there are three primary ways to establish fatherhood:

• Presumption of Legitimacy: If you were married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth, you are legally presumed to be the father.
• Acknowledgment of Parentage (AOP): A voluntary form signed by both parents, usually at the hospital or later at the Department of Social Services.
• Order of Filiation: If parentage is contested, a Westchester County fathers’ rights lawyer can file a Paternity Petition in Family Court. The court will typically order DNA testing to provide "clear and convincing" evidence of biological fatherhood.

Once paternity is established, you gain the right to be consulted on adoptions, the right to seek custody and visitation, and the obligation to provide financial support.

Why Fathers Face Unique Challenges In Westchester Family Courts

Many fathers come to us after hearing that family courts favor mothers or after feeling that their voice was not heard in an earlier case. In Westchester County Family Court in White Plains and in other courts throughout the county, judges are required to apply New York’s best interests of the child standard. 

In practice, that means they look at each parent’s involvement, the child’s needs, safety concerns, and the ability of each parent to support the child’s relationship with the other parent. Even with that standard, fathers often feel the deck is stacked against them. 

Some have been the primary or equal caregiver, yet face proposals that limit them to alternate weekends and a midweek dinner. Others are dealing with relocation requests that would move the children far from this county, making regular contact difficult. We have also seen situations where a disagreement during a separation leads to claims of domestic violence or substance use that immediately affect a father’s access to his children.

As your fathers’ rights attorney in Westchester County, we help you highlight the factors that judges prioritize:

• Primary Caretaker Status: Evidence that you are the parent who handles doctor visits, school meetings, and daily routines.
• Stability of the Home: Your ability to provide a safe, consistent residence and a predictable schedule.
• Emotional Bond: The strength and quality of your relationship with the child.
• Parental Cooperation: Your willingness to encourage a healthy relationship between the child and the other parent (courts look very unfavorably on "parental alienation").
• The Child’s Preference: If the child is of a sufficient age and maturity (typically 12 or older), the court may consider their wishes through an Attorney for the Child.

How Our Attorneys Advocate For Fathers & Their Relationships With Their Children

When you work with our firm, our focus is on protecting your role in your children’s lives. That starts with listening carefully to your history as a parent and how you have been involved in day-to-day care, school, activities, health decisions, and emotional support. We then consider how best to present that story to the court so the judge has a full picture of what your children gain from having you as an active parent.

With nearly 50 years of combined experience, we have seen how different strategies play out in courts in this region. Some cases call for firm litigation and detailed evidentiary hearings, especially where safety and credibility are disputed. Other cases benefit from targeted negotiation that builds a realistic parenting plan and financial structure without years of conflict.

Fathers who hire us work directly with attorneys Stephen Riebling and Marcia Payton, not with a revolving group of unfamiliar lawyers. We conduct comprehensive case assessments, walk you through options in plain language, and involve you in every important decision. Throughout the process, we work to balance strong advocacy in court with honest conversations about risks, tradeoffs, and the long-term impact on your family.

What To Do If Your Parental Rights Are At Risk

When you are served with custody, support, or divorce papers—or learn that the other parent has gone to court first—it’s important to pause and handle the situation carefully. Reacting too quickly or ignoring the documents can create serious problems. Fathers facing orders of protection, arrests, or DWIs have additional considerations. 

Taking the right steps early helps protect your rights, your children, and your long-term parenting role.

• Review all court documents carefully: Note deadlines, court dates, and what is being requested before taking any action or signing paperwork.
• Consult a lawyer before responding: Speak with an attorney to understand your options and ensure your responses in Family Court, Supreme Court, or criminal matters are handled correctly.
• Understand orders of protection and restrictions: Orders may limit contact with the other parent or children; violating them can lead to criminal charges or stricter orders. An attorney can clarify requirements and coordinate requests across family and criminal courts.
• Document your parenting involvement: Keep school records, activity schedules, and messages about pickups or drop-offs. Preserve communications with the other parent and avoid hostile or emotional messages.
• Limit public posts about the case: Avoid sharing information about the case, your former partner, or your children online, as posts can be used in court.
• Review agreements carefully: Before agreeing to parenting schedules or support amounts, consult a fathers rights lawyer to ensure proposals are fair, typical for the region, and protect your long-term relationship with your children.

How A Local Fathers Rights Lawyer In Westchester County Can Help

Working with a local attorney can significantly impact your experience in Westchester County Family Court in White Plains or the county’s Supreme Court. Each court has its own procedures, expectations, and norms for how information is presented and how parents conduct themselves. An attorney familiar with these local rules can help you prepare effectively and navigate hearings, conferences, and filings with confidence.

At Riebling & Payton, PLLC, we represent fathers from offices in Mount Kisco and White Plains, making it easier to meet without long travel. When cases involve multiple jurisdictions, such as Westchester and New York City or the Bronx, we travel as needed to keep your representation coordinated. This local presence ensures your strategy remains consistent across courts while staying close to home.

Our work includes preparing petitions and responses, gathering relevant documents, and representing fathers at conferences, motion hearings, and trials. We handle alleged violations, enforce parenting time, and pursue modifications when circumstances change. By guiding fathers through local procedures, explaining what to expect at each appearance, and advising on presentation, we help clients make informed decisions and protect their rights in Westchester County courts.

Benefits Of Working With A Local Firm

Fathers often find that a local firm offers several practical advantages:

• Convenient access to offices in Mount Kisco and White Plains for in person meetings.
• Familiarity with procedures in Westchester County Family Court and other nearby courts.
• Coordinated representation when cases involve courts in New York City or the Bronx as well as this county.
• Understanding of local expectations about parenting plans, schedules, and conduct in court.

Talk With Our Team About Protecting Your Rights As A Father

When you contact Riebling & Payton, PLLC, you speak with experienced attorneys who practice both criminal defense and family law and who appear regularly in courts in this county, including Westchester County Family Court in White Plains. 

During a consultation, we review your documents, discuss your goals, and identify immediate steps that can start protecting your position. From our offices in Mount Kisco and White Plains, we make it convenient for fathers in this region to get the legal guidance they need.

To talk with our team about your situation as a father and the options available to you, call (914) 712-6878 or reach out online now.