Q: What are my rights if unmarried but have child?
I was engaged to girl and we had a child together. She recently ended things. She moved to be closer to her family and has our child during the week. I take him on the weekends. I want to see my son more, but want to keep things peaceful for son who just turned 2. How should I handle child support? She said she never wanted a family and is unstable emotionally. What are my legal rights?
A: You have the right to have a relationship with your son and the responsibility to contribute towards his support. Either party may bring a court action to establish parental responsibility and child support. Parental responsibility-decision making and parenting time- will be decided in the child's best interests. Child support will be decided based on the respective incomes of the parties and the child's needs. You should retain an attorney to advise you further.
1 user found this answer helpful
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- Colorado
- (813) 592-5000
- View Profile
- Answered
A: If you are not getting the visitation you want with your child, you can certainly talk to the mother to see if you can come to some sort of other agreements. If not, your only option with enforceability would be to file a custody (allocation of parental responsibilities) case in the county where she resides. Child support will be part of that case as well. Again, you all could agree upon child support as well, without going to court. If you do come to agreements on your own, you should at least put them down on paper and both sign. Though those agreements might not be legally enforceable or binding, they would at least be evidence should you have to file a legal case down the road.
1 user found this answer helpful
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.
