If never married, and there is no adjudication of paternity, the mother has sole physical and legal custody. The father has no child support obligation and no right to parenting time, unless and until a court orders it.

If the issues is not addressed in the decree, IRS rules govern. The parent with the child the majority of the time gets to claim the child. If both parents have equal time, the parent with higher income claims.

You could bring a motion for custody as a de facto custodian, if you’ve cared for the child at least six months in the last 24 (need not be consecutive), however the statute also requires that you be the “primary” caregiver. If the child is with you on weekends and with mom during the week,... Read more »

It isn’t generally handles as a contempt issue at this point. You would bring a motion to enforce the decree. If she still withholds her, you could then seek contempt.

You can also ask that she be ordered to pay your attorney fees.

It depends upon the language of the Judgment and Decree. If it says nothing, you are generally free to take them. The Decree may still require you to notify the other person and provide contact information for everywhere you’re staying.

If there is no court-ordered custody or parenting time, dad has no legal rights to time with the child.

If he is adjudicated the father, generally yes.

I am assuming that child support was formally established via a paternity order. Did the order also grant parenting time? That will control what you can and cannot do as well as how much time you have with the child.

If there is no paternity order (and child support is thus informal), you... Read more »

There is no prohibition on such overnights, so they are allowed. The question is whether they are advisable.

Your info says you are in Indiana, so Minnesota law isn’t applicable.

That said, in MN, if he has court-ordered parenting time, you cannot move out of state without his agreement or court order.

Yes, the other possible father could bring a paternity action. Signing the ROP is not a legal adjudication of paternity.

Yes. Only a spouse has a statutory right to inheritance.

Mediation is non-binding. Unless you signed an agreement that has been entered by the court, nothing has changed your ability to schedule such appointments on your own.

It sounds as if you were never married. Was there any adjudication of paternity? If not, he has no right to claim her.

Going forward, the judge can award the exemption to you alone. Based on what you’ve said, that seems appropriate.

If the decree doesn’t address taxes, IRS... Read more »

You bring a motion in court asking that the parenting time schedule be modified.

You are not obligated to pay anything not ordered by the court. If the agreement was voluntary, you can stop the payments at any time. You may also suggest that she use the overpayment to cover camp going forward.

I do family law, not criminal, so I cannot address that question.

I’m not sure what you mean be representation, but a power of attorney form will allow a person to grant decision-making power to another.

Tips are included (and taxable). Bank statements can be requested in discovery or subpoenaed.

It depends upon what restrictions are put in his parenting time in the divorce decree. If it doesn’t prohibit his GF and kids, he can bring them unless you bring a motion to modify and can demonstrate that a prohibition is in your kids’ best interests.

I assume that the attorney also told the court. The court will likely reschedule it for a mutually-agreeable date.