Q: How can I get legal custody of my daughter, even if I'm still with her mother? Do I have to go through the courts?
I just want to be legally recognized as her father!
A: If you have been designated the father on the child's birth certificate, that would be a positive sign. There is a Paternity Petition through the Probate Court covering the locality where the child was born or resides and you can seek to establish or acknowledge paternity. You can also seek joint legal custody thereunder as the presumption is that an unmarried mother has sole custody physical and legal.
A: You'd need to file for paternity and custody rights. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney such as myself. You can read more about me, my credentials, awards, honors, testimonials, and media appearances/ publications on my law practice website, www.AEesq.com. I practice law in CA, NY, MA, and DC in the following areas of law: Business & Contracts, Criminal Defense, Divorce & Child Custody, and Education Law. This answer does not constitute legal advice; make any predictions, guarantees, or warranties; or create any Attorney-Client relationship.
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