Custody between unwed parents

[Dougherty-2015]

Jurisdiction

Virginia

I have a four year old daughter by my ex boyfriend. I am married now to another man and we have a child together. My exboyfriend demanded I send our daughter to live with him at his mother's house because we have a bug problem that we are working on.

I did not want to go to court with him because another child was removed from my care in the past and I am afraid they will not let me have rights to my four year old. However, he lives with his mother and a convicted child pornographer.

Is it true that they will keep siblings together? Will they favor me because I am married now? His name is on her birth certificate, but we never had a DNA test because we didn't need one. What do I do from here?

 

[army judge]

I have a four year old daughter by my ex boyfriend. I am married now to another man and we have a child together. My exboyfriend demanded I send our daughter to live with him at his mother's house because we have a bug problem that we are working on.

I did not want to go to court with him because another child was removed from my care in the past and I am afraid they will not let me have rights to my four year old. However, he lives with his mother and a convicted child pornographer.

Is it true that they will keep siblings together? Will they favor me because I am married now? His name is on her birth certificate, but we never had a DNA test because we didn't need one. What do I do from here?

An unmarried male who fathers a child has no rights to that child until paternity has been established.

He must go to court, prove paternity, and request the court to allow him visitation.

In four years he hasn't don't that.
Don't expect him to do it now.

You, as the birth mother, have ALL rights to the child.

I suggest you NOT allow your child to leave your side.

Under no conditions, absent a court order, would a wise mother allow her child to be in the presence of a convicted child pornographer.