Q: Child at age of 13 - Father never met her or ever wanted to see her. He did pay child support. Now he wants joint
My daughter filed for full custody, then father responded he wants joint custody because he was young and stupid after 13 years on never seeing or talking to her. She wants nothing to do with him because he abandoned her. What can we do is there Colorado Laws of abandonment or her wishes in this case? He ask that he can pick her up in Glenwood Springs and take her to Denver with him. Reminder she has never met him. It would be like going somewhere with a stranger.
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A: Your daughter should look into hiring a family law attorney to help her. If he has never met her and there are no orders in place you should not have her go with him. At age 13, though she doesn't get to make decisions, her wishes should at least be heard by the court. Her statements are hearsay and to get them into evidence you will likely need to get a child and family investigator on board, under CRS 14-10-116.5. As Colorado is very big on promoting relationships between children and parents, the court may order some sort of integration therapy to see if a relationship can develop. Again, with no current orders in place you don't have to send her.
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