No. If the two of you were not married when the child was born, then he is not entitled to visitation, even with a positive DNA test. He will have to got to court to assert his paternal rights first. Until then, you may deny visitation and you are not required to pay for have of the paternity... View More

It sounds like there is a lot of background there, that needs to be addressed. Get your kid in counseling.

If the officer did not call social services, then you should. Also contact an attorney local to you ASAP about seeking a child protection order for your son and possibly to modify you custody order so you son is not living with your ex.

You don't need a lawyer for that, just contact child support enforcement and tell them that you would like to terminate child support based on emancipation. They will send you a form to fill out and return to them. Be aware, you are still responsible for the support until the termination... View More

Usually you will refrain from filing an Answer until after the venue has been changed, otherwise you are submitting to the jurisdiction the petition was originally filed. Getting a change of venue can be tricky, speak to an attorney in the jurisdiction you are attempting to change to, as soon as... View More

If the papers say the Court will schedule the review hearing, then let the court be responsible for scheduling the hearing. If it is over six months, they are likely busy, the Court will get to it.

Yes, you can; living in another county won't matter. However, you may want to file in Camden county if the relocation is permanent. Talk to an attorney in the county where the child lives about grandparents rights.

It is possible for him to receive joint custody, and he will receive it from the courts if you do not respond to his petition. Talk to a family attorney as soon as possible in the jurisdiction where you live or where the petition was filed.

You could ask the court to award temporary maintenance and attorneys fees. But the court usually doesn't award attorney's fees until the end of the case to reimburse that asking party for fees already spent. It is uncommon for a court to award fees upfront. Many attorneys take... View More

There is not enough information here about what property your grandparents own and when it was acquired to be able to adequately answer a question about property distribution. Your grandmother should speak to a family attorney local to her to discuss her marital and sole assets.

In order for one parent to voluntarily terminate parental rights, someone else would have to adopt the child. However, if the father is completely uninterested in maintaining a relationship with the child, then you could petition the court for a modification of your current court order to grant... View More

In a divorce, each parent has equal access and rights to the children until a court says otherwise. If there have been no orders for custody and parenting time issued by the court, mom can see the kids whenever she wants.

Yes, being self-supporting is a requirement for emancipation. Then you will need to file a petition with the court to be considered emancipated by the court. You can also join the military or get married to be considered emancipated.

Talk to a family attorney close to you about the... View More

If another takes legal guardianship of your son, that person then become financially responsible for the child.

It will depend a little bit on the length of time the child has been with you. If it has only been a day or so, I would say wait for mom to come back. However, if the child has been in your care for over a month, then you should speak to family attorney local to you about seeking a guardianship... View More

If she doesn't comply with the divorce papers, you can seek a motion for civil contempt. The first one is usually more of a slap on the hand, but if she continues to ignore court orders, you can have an her wages garnished until she has paid off her obligation. Talk to an attorney in the... View More

Until a court says otherwise, you both have equal access and rights to the children. The rule of law is "best interests of the child", it will depend upon the local rules of your jurisdiction a bit, but generally courts will believe joint custody is in the best interests of the child... View More

Your support obligation for your daughter does end when she turns 21. Your son however is a bit tricky. Typically, support obligations continue when a child is in school, until they are 21, however, when a enters the military, they are considered emancipated. If he is receiving employment from... View More

A police report wouldn't necessarily work for that. A motion for contempt might work better. However, if she can prove that there is no agreement to return the items and that they are indeed being used for the benefit of your daughter, then legal remedies might be a little difficult to obtain.

Yes, you should hire a family lawyer to get the action dismissed. If he is not the biological father, and not the legal father, then he has no rights to the child and cannot be given custody. Make sure to provide whomever you hire with a copy of the DNA test.