Q: If the father isn’t on the birth certificate, how do I go about getting full custody and child support ?
He’s been in an out of jail, addicted to drugs and wants nothing to do with her. I want rights taken away but he’s not on the birth certificate.
A: Hello. Legally speaking you are discussing two separate events. One, being custody and child support. The other, termination of parental rights. Child support can be handled through DRH in your county, if you qualify. Otherwise, you will need to seek the assistance of an attorney to file for child support/custody. During that matter is when paternity will need to be established. At least one court appearance will be required. Second, terminating someone's parental rights is a more challenging and time consuming endeavor. Multiple court appearances are usually required and you will need an attorney to make sure all procedural requirements are met. Do yourself a huge favor and have at least one consultation with an attorney in your area who can consider all the relevant facts of your case(s) to determine the best course of action. Best of luck!
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