Asked in Child Support, Family Law and Immigration Law for Kentucky

Q: What can we do if the father of an unborn child does not want to acknowledge the baby?

My friend is pregnant and is a resident of Japan. The father of the baby was in the US Navy and was stationed in Japan but recently got out of the military and is now back in his hometown (Glasgow, Kentucky). He refuses to acknowledge the baby and has since blocked my friend (and her friends) in all social media platforms. We want to know if by obtaining a paternity test, we could fight our way to get child support and get the baby an American citizenship.

Edit: Some say we should hire an immigration lawyer because the baby will be born in Japan, is that a better option? And if we do hire a lawyer (may it be family or immigration), how does it work when she lives in Japan and the guy is in Kentucky? Do we hire a lawyer in Japan or in Kentucky? Is it possible to file a case in a Kentucky court if she's not physically there?

3 Lawyer Answers
Kyndra L Mulder
PREMIUM
Kyndra L Mulder
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Jacksonville, FL

A: Yes. He can be sued for support. By proving paternity the child may also have a claim to United States citizenship.

Nadine C. Atkinson-Flowers and Timothy Denison agree with this answer

Alexander Ivakhnenko
Alexander Ivakhnenko
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Wheeling, IL

A: You friend must consult a family attorney directly without any officious intermeddler to structure a legally accurate approach to that highly personal issue.

Timothy Denison agrees with this answer

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
Answered
  • Louisville, KY
  • Licensed in Kentucky

A: Yes to both questions.

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