Q: What is the process for a father to receive visitation from court?
I am the unwed mother of a child who I have taken care of since birth. She is now 6 weeks old. I permitted her father to visit although he has not helped or paid child support. He recently stated that he was going to take me to court for visitation/custody. I have never kept him from his daughter. Any idea how long this process takes and what I need to prepare myself for?
A: As the unwed mother, you have sole legal custody of your child. You decide who gets to spend time with your child, or not. The father must go to court and prove paternity with DNA, and the court will then consider granting him visiting time, if he is proven to be the father. The court determines what is in the best interest of the child for father's visits, based on all the evidence presented to the court at a hearing that you and he attend. For a newborn, the court might grant a father some limited time. As the child gets older, a father could go back to court and ask for more time. Child support does not happen automatically, so contact your local children's services office to start the child support process for him to begin paying. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local family law attorney to assist you.
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