If your daughter was never married to the father and he has never been adjudicated the father by the Court then no. However, he can petition the court for paternity and custody. The father can also file an ex parte emergency custody petition with his paternity action to get immediate custody if the... View More

You could designate your sister as a preference for guardian for your daughter in a Will. If you need assistance in drafting a will or other estate planning documents feel free to reach out to me.

In Arkansas, you can adopt your own child. You don't need someone else to adopt the child for you or with you. Seems odd but you basically follow the adoption statute; i.e., you must be over 18, of sound mind, have no felonies on your record, be able to care for the child and a few others that... View More

I would be happy to set you up a free consultation with our attorney who specializes in DHS cases. Feel free to reach out through my profile or give us a call.

I'm not sure the facts you've presented will be enough for a court to issue an emergency order but you could certainly ask a court for a custody modification based on these facts. If their dad can't provide a safe environment for the kids you could ask the court to limit his time... View More

If it is not addressed in the divorce or custody document you wouldn't be in contempt (it is frequently included, so make SURE that is the case). However, he can ask the court for a modification to restrict cohabitation.

I would expect that to be successful. Conservative state,... View More

Sounds like you should pursue emancipation.

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answered on May 24, 2020

The issue of custody is always open for review. The issue is always what is in the best interest of the child.

Until the DHS case is closed it is doubtful any other action will be considered. I understand you want to get the child out of DHS involvement but filing such an action will not help you in the DHS case. Typically you will have an attorney appointed in the DHS case. If so, you probably don't... View More

Under Arkansas law, the mother of children born outside of marriage automatically has legal custody of them. In order to obtain custody, a father would have to (1) establish paternity, (2) show that he has financially supported the children and maintained a relationship with them, and (3) show... View More

The question is a little confusing, but I am assuming that since there is no court order and you refer to a non-custodial parent, that the parents were never married. In Arkansas, the mother of a child born outside of wedlock automatically has custody of him or her. The father has to establish... View More

The short answer to your question is "yes." You could file a motion with the court in your previous custody case and allege that you believe your ex is on drugs and request a drug test. The judge would need to sign an order requiring your ex to take the test. You would likely be... View More

Madam,

I am not a family law attorney neither authorized to practice law in your state but you need to contact a family attorney in your area ASAP regarding this matter or if you don't have the means to afford an attorney you can contact legal aid and see if you qualified for their... View More

There are a few issues that you are facing with the Georgia lawsuit. The first is whether Georgia has jurisdiction to decide custody or does Arkansas now have jurisdiction. If there is a previous custody order out of Georgia or if your ex filed suit for custody in Georgia within six months from... View More

If you and your ex are married and the child was born during the marriage, then you are correct that you both have equal rights to him/her. Therefore, the law does not prevent you from getting your child from a third party such as daycare or school. However, if your ex has an attorney, it sounds... View More

If the father doesn't return the child to the custodial parent when his visitation period is over, the court could find him in contempt of whichever court order established the visitation arrangement.

However, it sounds like the son really wants to live with his father. It may be in... View More

Are you married to the child's father? The answer to your question depends on whether the man currently has any parental rights.

If you have a good reason for not wanting your child to be picked up by his father (for example, you have reason to believe he may be abusive or may... View More

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answered on Aug 19, 2019

Your question is more of a moral instead of legal one. According to Arkansas law if you are still married you would be committing adultery which is grounds for divorce.

You'll still need to notify her unless her parental rights were terminated. Unless you got "sole custody" through a DHS proceeding, her rights have probably not been terminated. Even if you did, it needs to state in the most recent custody order that her parental rights were... View More

If both a child's parents pass away, someone who is related to the child may petition a court to appoint the relative as the child's guardian. If you know someone in this situation, they may need to seek counsel from a lawyer about filing a guardianship petition in Arkansas, if... View More