Do I have a chance of getting full custody of my baby?

Question

I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and the father of the baby decided that he didn't want to be with me any more. He just had his best friend move in with him in the two bedroom apartment that we shared and all they do is party pretty much every night. He drinks and he smokes in the apartment along with all of his friends. He won't call me or talk to me since he left, not even to see if me and the baby are doing okay. He seems like he doesn't even care that hes going to be a dad. I do not want my child around the environment that he is in at this point. Is there any way that I can get full custody of my unborn baby with out having any over night visits with the father.

Answer 1

From what you're saying I don't think he wants custody.

You should make sure you get child support and when you do talk to your lawyer about your concerns....but I don't think you're going to have a problem with him wanting to see his son.

Answer 2

I completely understand your concerns. At this point, since the child is not yet born custody cannot yet be determined. Each state has different laws. In some states when the parents are not married, mother gets automatic custody but that is NOT true in all states.
Beg, borrow or steal to hire yourself an attorney and meet with them IMMEDIATELY after your child is born. If you do not put him on the birth certificate, it does not mean he will never be declared as the father, as DNA testing can be done. Also, there is the issue of child support, and if you ever wish to receive any from him.
Begin documenting EVERYTHING! Try to be clear headed and as unemotional as is possible during pregnancy!! I hope you plan on unrestricted breastfeeding with your child, as it is the best gift you can give your baby and may buy a little time as far as overnights IF the father wants them. It sounds as if he may be willing to sign over his parental rights. If so, have him do ASAP after the child is born.
Contact an attorney, make an appointment.
All that being said, I do believe a child needs a father. I am lucky in that while the father of my child and I are not together, he loves our son, spends time with him and helps with the support of him. I am so glad because I know our boy needs his father, but his father is a good man regardless of the fact that our personal relationship didn't work out.
Good luck to you and try to stay healthy & calm.

Answer 3

I had a similar situation where the father wasn't interested at all. I am in New Zealand and the law will be slightly different here but I had to declare who the father was (and get a lawyer to serve papers on him, etc) and then I also filed for full custody. As the father ignored the papers that he received the judge ruled in my favor and I have full custody.

A lot may change between now and when the baby is born so don't worry too much about it til then. Look after yourself and try not to spend your pregnancy being angry at the father's lack of support.

You'll need help from a lawyer when the time comes. Til then relax and look after you and your baby.

Good luck.

Answer 4

sounds like he wont have much interest in being a father anyway. I do not know where you are from, but in general, the U.S. courts do not like it when one parent keeps the child from the other. he has a right to visitation, just as you have a right to child support. newborns rarely get overnight visits, but it is something you may have to deal with in the future as the child gets a little older. I doubt you will get full custody unless you can prove he is a danger to the child, but he may not want any custody anyway-the way it sounds. BTW, if he does want and gets some custody/visitation time-that will cut down the amount of child support you will receive- at least in California it will.

Answer 5

The father does have a right to see his child. It sounds to me as though you are looking at this without the child's best interests in mind. Not only does the father have a right to know and love his child, the child has the right to know and love his father.

I am a divorced father of 2 sons. I do have full custody of my boys, but I would never dream of keeping them from spending time with their mother, even though my personal feelings for her are extreme.

If I ever found what it was that made me fall in love with that woman so many years ago, i would burn it out with a hot fireplace poker. That does not mean, however, that my kids shouldn't have to opportunity to form their own opinion.

Answer 6

Women always get custody of the children, whether the father is a sleazebag or not (which F*cking sucks cause i know DAMN well i'd want my child if i had a love child and the woman doesn't want to be together.) Just the way the law works, so you don't have to worry about losing the baby, as far as visitation, you really can't fight that, unless his lifestyle is too unstable for the child to have his/her presence in, if he wanted visitation rights he's gonna get it....but ya'll aren't married, so techncially i doubt if you have to give him visitation rights at all, unless he takes you to court. Don't know law that specific enough to tell, but by the way the guy is, if he's actin like that..you won't have to worry about his presence in your life.

Answer 7

guys are pigs all they want is to do it and leave, stay away from the father of your baby if he doesnt care about u he dosent care about the baby, yes i would get full custody and have the father pay child support i would not let him have any visitation if he cant help with the pregnancy why bother letteng him see the child

Answer 8

If you're not married to the man at this point than you have full custody of the child. But of course check out the current laws in your state. Here's some extra advice. Write down everything with date/time/where/how/who. Be very exact and precise this may be handy. But like I said unless he can prove you're unfit you automatically get full custody if you're not married.

Answer 9

Of course there are.First you would have to explain to the courts your concern and why it's unsafe for the baby to go anywhere with him let along stay all night unsupervised,he will be entitled to see his baby but maybe not in an unsupervised manner,but from the sounds of things it don't sound like him wanting to see the baby let along keep it the whole night is going to be one of your problems,but child support is .He is a loser that you should be happy to be rid of ,and him not being there for you his loss his regrets and his mistake,because whether he knows it or not he's still responsible for that babies medical your hospital bills all that so he can miss it all if he wants,but he's still going to have to pay. explain that to him when you send him the next bill you get from your Dr.s or insurance company,and see if he still feels the same.

Answer 10

SEE A LAWYER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF GUYS WHO WANT TO HAVE FUN BUT DON'T WANT TO GROW UP AND BE A FATHER. YOU'LL PROBABLY GET FULL CUSTODY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT IT AND HE'LL SIGN OFF ON THE BABY TOO.