TN, She is age 11. Never had a relationship with her father until 1 year ago. She hates seeing him because of stepmother/stepsister. I never asked for child support for fear of him asking for legal rights. If I do ask for support, can the courts force her to have visitation with him against her own will. I have never told her she couldn't go with him on a visitation and won't! It's always her decision. But he also will go months without even calling her. Her father and I were never married, nor lived together. I raised her myself in a christian enviroment. He on the other hand drinks and does drugs. I am unemployed, and can't get her on Tenn Care unless I name the father to DHS. I'm afraid if I do, he will retaliate by forcing her to go on visits against her will.
2007-01-02 05:21:02 · 8 answers · asked by SPIRIT 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
In Virginia and Florida the age is 14. Which is ridiculous, all the damage has been done by age 14. Unfortunately if you request child support your child may forced by the courts into an unwanted visitation. If you are worried that he may retaliate against you, he very well may, and not by forcing visitation but by requesting custody. If you are not married and are unemployed you could very well lose your child even to a man whose been a complete stranger.
No offense to good fathers, but there are plenty of men who will sue for custody because they would rather not pay child support to an ex. or simply to keep the money from leaving the household. We fought a custody battle for three years against a convicted drug dealer in Florida because the judge was so pro-father. I work with the courts and I have seen indigent mothers forced to bring their babies to jail/mental institutions for visitation with the man who tried to burn the house down with all of them in it (not him, mind you, his family inside), beat them senseless etc.
I know of a case where the father tried to run over his child, pushed the child out a 2nd story window and was still awarded custody. Family court is out of control. Let me assure you having a lawyer is no guarantee. The lawyers are usually playing golf or drinking buddies of the judge, or their kids go to
Catholic school together. My heart goes to all family court victims, parents and children. Once you invite a government entitiy into your life (police, social workers, judges, lawyers etc) you have tripled your original problem. I wish you luck.
2007-01-02 05:49:46 · answer #1 · answered by LoneStarLou 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If her father does all the things you say he does then any decent court would deny him visitation rights. When I turned 18 I didn't have to visit my father anymore, it was up to me/my decision. So if he was allowed visitation rights then she couldn't deny seeing him until she turned 18. Well, that's how it is in Florida. It may depend on where you live. But it sounds like the court wouldn't give him visitation rights if he does drugs and drinks a lot because that's not safe for your daughter and usually the court looks at the best interest for the child.
2007-01-02 05:28:48 · answer #2 · answered by angelicasongs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At that age she may be able to decide on her own. I am not really sure but it may be something that you could talk to a lawyer about. If a court does order visitation you cannot say she can't go, but like I said before the courts may let her have a say at that age. The best thing is to talk to a legal expert, they will be able to help you far more than most people on here.
2007-01-02 05:26:51 · answer #3 · answered by williamcoulson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you have custody, if she doesn't want to see him and you support that, he could take it to court. It would then be up to a judge if she has to see him or not. I don't know what TN law is, but I grew up in NY and was able to say at 14 I didn't want to see my father. If DHS makes him pay child support, he can't force her to see him, he doesn't get to put a stipulation on payments. I don't know if your daughter has told him she's uncomfortable seeing him with his new family, but if not, have her try it while you're there to giver her support. If she has talked to him, maybe you need to stay with her while she's with him. I really hope this helps. Best wishes & God Bless
2007-01-02 05:31:04 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
legally it depends on the state.... I know Va its 13..
you can have him found unfit though if he is truelly into drugs. They (Tenn Care and DHS) wont let anything to happen to her, you just have to give them all the facts and tell them what you are scared of and why. And they will help you.
Best of luck to you and her
2007-01-02 05:48:28 · answer #5 · answered by KTINA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That total difficulty approximately adult men being the oppressors and ladies being the victims is the single purpose i will have faith of. If there are feminists intentionally protecting up infant abuse of any sort,then they are able to't be seen women folk or perhaps human beings. it somewhat is unhappy that all and sundry's ideology could override their experience of empathy for an abused infant.
2016-10-19 09:01:10 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when she turns 12 years old you can because i have a friend that did the same thing and it wasnt half as bad as what yyour dude did and he gets to pick when he wants to see his dad so wait when she turns 12 cuz thats when your child is old enough to pick when he wants to see his dad
2007-01-02 05:40:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
she has to be encouraged by both sides....and if u dont feel comfortable about her visiting her father, then turn him in to DHS, who cares!
2007-01-02 05:31:05 · answer #8 · answered by butterfly_kisses81501 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋