Sixteen-Year-Old Daughter is Pregnant and Keeping the Child

[Surfmom66]

We are a military family who is currently stationed in NC. Our 16 yr old daughter (a junior in high school) just informed us that she is pregnant and is thinking about keeping the baby. The father is 18 years old who lives here in NC and is currently finishing his first year in college.

Her father and I are totally against this however, by law, it's her body and it's her decision. We are due to get orders next summer to another duty station. Since marriage is not an option for either one of them, aren't we still legally bound to take our daughter (who'll be 17 yrs old by then) and her baby with us to the next base we're assigned to even though the father lives here in NC? His parents were threatening court action should we take my daughter and baby out of state next summer. What rights do they have in preventing us from following military orders?

Aren't we supposed to be responsible for our child until she turns 18? Can this be considered statutory rape since he is 18 and our daughter is only 16? We are from California, so are the laws that apply to us California law or are we held by North Carolina law since we are here? Please help.

[panther10758]

I believe the age of consent is 16 so you may be dead there. The father has rights as well as Mom so this is tricky there are no clear cut answers i would consult a Family Law Attorney before move date

[Mr. Knowitall]

What do his parents suggest? That you abandon her and the baby at the base when you leave for your next assignment?

[jojo4]

North Carolina law is applicable. The age of consent is 16.

When the baby is born, the father of the child (and your daughter) will either have to sign an affidavit of paternity or he (or she) will have to file to establish legal paternity. Once legal paternity is established HE (not his parents) will have the right to file for custody/visitation in court. Until there is a court order, he has no rights to the child. Consult a good family law atty, as your situation is unique in nature in that while it is true that he may be granted the request that the child not be removed from the state, you still have complete control and responsibility of your child.

His parents can threaten legal action all they want. The fact of the matter is that they have no standing at this point in time.

Oh, the father of the baby should be prepared to pay child support, as well, assuming that your daughter retains custody of the child.

[wantsbestforkaren]

His parents were threatening court action should we take my daughter and baby out of state next summer.

ell them to go ahead and take you to court. they have absolutely no say at all, the girl is not their daughter, and they are not yet legally the grandparents of the baby. even if they were, they would still have no say over the baby, only their son would.