Still, it is primarily women who, after a separation or divorce, usually take on the responsibility for their children. They want to protect their children but must also deal with legal regulations and may fear that the ex-partner is unwilling to provide financial support to the family. They may also worry about losing custody or being unable to prevent visitation rights, even if they have been physically and psychologically abused by their partner for years. The reform of visitation rights according to § 1684 of the German Civil Code has resulted in all fathers, whether married or not, obtaining enforceable visitation rights and being able to initiate legal proceedings solely based on visitation rights, regardless of custody. If a father does not have custody, he can still exercise visitation rights.