If you have a child support order in your name and the child now lives with you, I would hire an attorney to file for a modification of custody, and ask for a temporary hearing, for the court to award you temporary physical custody. The mother may come and get the child back once she is served.... View More

It is unclear why he would only have temporary physical custody if your divorce is final and you have a divorce decree, as you put it. Therefore, my best advice is to speak to an attorney. Because a petition for write of habeas corpus is not what I would advise. And again, if your divorce is... View More

It is very likely that the Court is going to want paternity established before they can determine the defendant is guilty of child abandonment. Please speak directly to an attorney. Because what is your goal with child abandonment? If you put the father in jail then he's not working, and he... View More

If the father refused to communicate with you and there is a court order allowing you to communicate the children and/or an order stating that he has to communicate you regarding decisions, then he is likely in contempt for his failure to allow you to speak to the children and his failure to speak... View More

If he is your husband, are you all going through a divorce, where you have court ordered visitation? Because if there is an order from the court giving you visitation, and he is violating any part of that order, then he is in contempt. If there is no order and this visitation is something you... View More

The court will not modify the current order regarding custody or visitation unless you file an action asking them to do so. As far as how to address the contempt petition, you should file an Answer within 30 days of the date you were served with the documents. That Answer should respond to each... View More

If the father will not legitimize and obtain visitation where you can visit the child during his parenting time, you should speak with an attorney and see if you meet the guidelines under GA law, to petition the court for grandparent visitation. Because there are guidelines under the law, where a... View More

If you're the mother and the father has never legitimized, you already have sole physical and legal custody under GA law. Therefore, you wouldn't file for something you already have. If the father now wants to file for sole custody, he should file in the county where the mother lives... View More

If you have a court order for someone to pay child support, and it is not being paid in accordance with the order, then you can file a contempt action. If you don't have a court order and the other parent is not spending time with the child or providing any financial assistance, you can file... View More

You can file for divorce. And in that divorce you can fill out a parenting plan with the custody & visitation you would like the court to award the parties in said action. Or you can sit down with your spouse prior to filing, and see if you both can come up with a parenting plan you both... View More

The father does not have to have an order to pay support to file for child abandonment. Prior to having a court order, there is still a duty to pay support. And no, child abandonment actions can be for either parent. If the father has the child and the mother is not spending time with the child... View More

It's not up to a defendant to make it easy for the plaintiff to serve them. If they won't provide a home address then you may have to use other resources to locate that address such as a background check, private investigator, skip trace, etc. You could also try and determine their... View More

The facts you have stated are confusing as the mother always has sole legal and physical custody of a child until the father legitimizes, if the parties were not married when the child was born. Yet, if the mother lost custody, your facts don't state who has custody for there to be any issue... View More

If he filed for legitimation you should hire an attorney. But he can file the action and ask for some form of custody and/or visitation. You can bring up his unwillingness to exercise visitation in the past before the court. But there’s nothing you can do about his refusing visitation right... View More

If she becomes voluntarily unemployed there is no way to say how that will impact her custody or the fathers visitation. Her loss of income could cause the other party to take her back to court and ask for a change of custody. No longer having the financial capability to support the child could... View More

If you were not married when the child was born and have not legitimized, then the father has no rights. The mother can take the child anywhere she wants and the father cannot stop her. Only when the father files to legitimize and has the mother served, will that prevent the mother from taking... View More

If you are married you should file for divorce if you want some form of custody and/or visitation. If you’re not married you will need to legitimize. But it’s unclear how she can threaten to take custody unless you are the parent who has custody right now. And if that’s the case, then... View More

If the father has never legitimized the minor child, you can voluntarily sign guardianship papers. Then you will need to follow the process to make the paperwork legal. It's best that you and the guardian speak with an attorney and have them draft the paperwork for you. They can also file... View More

I would advise you to hire an attorney to represent you in this situation. Because an attorney can draft the proper documents and file them with the court. An attorney can also speak to the Department of Family & Children's Services on your behalf, which will make the process go much... View More

If they were ordered to pay your attorneys fees then that means you have an attorney. Speak with your attorney about sending them a letter if the deadline has passed. Your attorney can then take the necessary steps if they don't respond with collecting. But your attorney is still on this... View More