If never married, and there is no adjudication of paternity, the mother has sole physical and legal custody. The father has no child support obligation and no right to parenting time, unless and until a court orders it.

A Minnesota attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. One option here could be to look into whether pro bono or legal aid resources could assist here, due to your mother's financial hardship. You could also check with the Minnesota Bar Association. You could... Read more »

If the issues is not addressed in the decree, IRS rules govern. The parent with the child the majority of the time gets to claim the child. If both parents have equal time, the parent with higher income claims.

You could bring a motion for custody as a de facto custodian, if you’ve cared for the child at least six months in the last 24 (need not be consecutive), however the statute also requires that you be the “primary” caregiver. If the child is with you on weekends and with mom during the week,... Read more »

It isn’t generally handles as a contempt issue at this point. You would bring a motion to enforce the decree. If she still withholds her, you could then seek contempt.

You can also ask that she be ordered to pay your attorney fees.

It depends upon the language of the Judgment and Decree. If it says nothing, you are generally free to take them. The Decree may still require you to notify the other person and provide contact information for everywhere you’re staying.

Basically, yes. Typically the DANCO would be both more specific and more recent. If there is a conflict between a family court order and a DANCO, it would be a good idea to either follow the more restrictive of the two, presumably the DANCO; or and until bring a motion before the judge in the... Read more »

If there is no court-ordered custody or parenting time, dad has no legal rights to time with the child.

If he is adjudicated the father, generally yes.

I am assuming that child support was formally established via a paternity order. Did the order also grant parenting time? That will control what you can and cannot do as well as how much time you have with the child.

If there is no paternity order (and child support is thus informal), you... Read more »

There is no prohibition on such overnights, so they are allowed. The question is whether they are advisable.

Your info says you are in Indiana, so Minnesota law isn’t applicable.

That said, in MN, if he has court-ordered parenting time, you cannot move out of state without his agreement or court order.

Yes, the other possible father could bring a paternity action. Signing the ROP is not a legal adjudication of paternity.

You certainly have a legal right to defend yourself and your unborn child. It seems like you might have some exposure of being charged with a 5th Degree Assault. That is a misdemeanor unless you have prior assault convictions. You need an attorney. You should either hire a private attorney or... Read more »

Yes. Only a spouse has a statutory right to inheritance.

Perhaps an appeal would be proper

Mediation is non-binding. Unless you signed an agreement that has been entered by the court, nothing has changed your ability to schedule such appointments on your own.

Generally mental health records that are filed with the court are filed as private or sealed so that the general public cannot access them. I presume you could pursue an order from the court to review your own mental health records. But you should be able to access those directly from the provider.

It sounds as if you were never married. Was there any adjudication of paternity? If not, he has no right to claim her.

Going forward, the judge can award the exemption to you alone. Based on what you’ve said, that seems appropriate.

If the decree doesn’t address taxes, IRS... Read more »

You bring a motion in court asking that the parenting time schedule be modified.