Do I have to file for custody? Or do I automaticly have it since my son
lives with me? This is worrying me because someone told me that my ex
could just take him.

are you divorced? were you married?

We were never married, but he did sign papers saying he was the father.
Not sure if that affects anything.

different states have different rules, most are the same , but i would
contact someone and ask,
i dont mean us , i mean legally.

any lawyer would answer that for free,

sorry i couldnt be more help

in my state if you werent married then he has no rights....and even if
he signed a paper saying he was the father it dont matter...anyone can
do that....so i would say legally he has no rights.......is he named on
the birth certificate??

Yes, hes on the birth certificate.

then he would have some le-way but no he can not take your son because
you were not married!!!!

in most states him being on the birth certificaate is not enough to
establish him as the father....

That makes me feel better. But i think ill have to look into it, just to
make sure.

yes you really do need too because the laws are different
everywhere....and good luck hun!!!

Thanks

you are very welcome hun!!!

well i dont know about in the USA but here in canada if they go over a
year with no contact they then have no wrights its abdoment i dont know
how long its been in your case but you realy should contact a lawyer.
because i just went through it with my daugther it took a long time to
get leagle custody and her father is not on her birth certificate.

If you have not gone to court to settle custody, were never married, and
he pays child support...Then you are the custodial parent, also meaning
you have full custody. This means that you can plan visitation
yourself. If the father doesn't like the visitation arrangments you
proposed he can take you to court to have the court determine each
parent's visitation rights in the best interest of the child.

My son is 11 months old and i havent seen his father since the begining
of January. Hes in Tennessee and im living with his parents in Maryland.
I was going to go to Florida to be with my family and he threatened to
take my son. I just wasnt sure if he could actually do anything.

living with his parents deffinately makes it harder thats for sure!!!!

They have been pretty good to me. They told me their son was a jerk, i
guess i had to find that out for myself.

Go down to your local courthouse in MD if that is where it is, and get
what is called a parenting plan and fill it out.There may be a charge.
The law library has the paperwork in our state, fill it out and get it
in place. It is an instrument designed to help protect you and your
rights.
I am not a lawyer, but this is a cya thing.....it also establishes
visitation rights down the road, and support. This is part of the type
of law, called Family Law, and the Courts have an advocate that can help
you.

parenting plans can be found online as well.. and custody is state
bystate,, where i live he can come n get them whenever, but in the state
i used to live in i could charge him with kidnaping.. so it is all state
by state...


good luck,,

parenting plans can be found online as well.. and custody is state
bystate,, where i live he can come n get them whenever, but in the state
i used to live in i could charge him with kidnaping.. so it is all state
by state...


good luck,,