Regarding custody, what are my rights as a never married father in the state of Wisconsin?

Question

My ex girlfriend & I had a child together, and we currently have shared custody. She has primary placement now.
As an unmarried, not divorced parent, the courts very much seem to favor the mother. What are my rights?

My ex wants to take my child out-of-state, and I am 100% against this as she does not show a commitment to our visitation agreement while in-state.
My daughter is the most important thing in my life.
Her mother has not shown this same order of priorities.
My daughter is with her grandmother the majority of the time. Her mother doesn't even live in the city where our daughter goes to school, she goes in her grandmother's school district because it is more convenient for Mom.

All in all, however, this is not about what is convenient for me, or the mother. It is about what's best for my child.
If she were to be deprived of her relationship with her father, I know she would suffer immensely on many levels.
How do I prevent this from happening?
Is there hope?

The lawyer that I hired was not much help in the first place.
We were sent to court-ordered mediation. It was very biased toward the mother. I need a judge and an attorney who is more of an advocate for paternity rights. We were not married, and most lawyers and court systems seem geared towards divorce custody battles. This is not the case.
I hate that this will tie up the court system. I want to work out something on our own with the mother, but she is running to the court for support because she knows that they are more on her side. It is not fair, and I may not be able to change that, but I sure as heck want to try.
More importantly however, is I value my child and her growth and development. Her being with the mother, and being taken out of state by that mother is NOT in her best interests.
How can I show and prove that this is a bad situation for my child?
The mother's never been arrested but she did forge some checks and has a history of lying which I can prove.

Seriously... no one has anything better to offer?
It is as dire as I thought. Yikes!

Answer 1

Sounds to me that you have awful legal counsel, you need to find a really good attorney and go back to court, and fight, fight fight, for your daughter. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 2

As a step toddler who did no longer elect to no longer have her bio dad, i could say that except your specific he provides conceivable or will harm your daughter's, that the best determine is the two parents. i'm no longer asserting to grant in to his each and every whim, yet joint custody seems to be the best for the youngsters. won't be for the adults, however the youngsters are incredibly those that rely interior the long-term.

Answer 3

talk to legal counsel.