I have a granddaughter out of wedlock. The father abandoned my daughter when she was pregnant and although he did the right thing by signing the birth certificate at the hospital more than 4 months ago, he has never visited my granddaughter or paid any support. Both he and his parents seem to be disinterested in her well being. My daughter is currently on financial assistance and the child support department of California has served him with papers regarding his responsibilities. My daughter is worried that if anything should happen to her, the courts would give custody to him. She would like to provide guardianship of her daughter to my husband and I should anything happen. Does she have to obtain permission from him to do this? Or because of his abandonment, does she automatically receive full custodial rights and all that entails? Thank you very much.