Q: I reside now in TN but only been here for 30 days. Do I have full custody of my baby as an unmarried mother?
And I don't know the where abouts of my baby's dad.
A: This is a complex question- any custody litigation has to occur in the "home state" - this phrase has a legal definition/meaning. It is where the child has resided for the last 6 months, so it sounds like you are not yet eligible to file in Tennessee. However, TN law says that until a court order establishes paternity, the mother is the legal custodian of a child born out of wedlock. Hope this helps.
Marjorie A Bristol agrees with this answer
1 user found this answer helpful
A: If you don't have an order from another state awarding him custody, I think you will be fine. Any services that you need to access in TN will treat you as the sole custodian. Hope that helps.
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