Q: i wanna know my rights in a custody battle in a non married relationship
im thinking about leaving my significant other and we have a child together im wanting to know if we break up if she can take him to a diffrent state without saying anything and how hard it would be to get custody if i dont have my own place
A: There is nothing preventing the mother of a child from moving out of state with the child unless there is a court order saying otherwise. If you and the mother are not married, you need to file a paternity action in order to assert your rights as a father and get a parenting plan put in place that discusses custody of the child. Without a parenting plan, there is no guarantee you'll get to see your child once you land her separate unless the mother agrees to it. You need to look over the self-represent website or talk to an attorney to get this process started.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
