Custody and Visitation for an Unmarried Couple

[raloeb]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Ohio.

My question is, my ex and i after 7 years, it was a nasty breakup, 5 months ago, We have had a schedule of rotating our 2yr old between us, but she just keeps changing the schedule to suit her needs, now i only get to see our child what was 3-7 days a week, to 3 days a month if i am lucky. She never lets me have any contact with him, nor tells me anything about him, or even what the doctors say when she goes, I do pay for his insurance. She wants to change his name to hers, I tell her no, since my name is on the BC and signed the AOP. My question is, I had him for a few days last week, she kept saying she wanted him home the next day, letting me have him just one day for the whole month, well we had plans and i wasnt able to take him back, and she kept treathing me she was going to call the cops and have me charged with kidnapping. Can she do that? What would the cops do? Arrest me for not returning him when she said? There is nothing thru the courts. Can I just keep him and let him live with me? Or do i have to take him back at the date and time she says, and basicly jump when she says? She met a guy 3 months ago, and they have moved in with him 2 months ago. I have tried to give her money, she refuses, and tried to work out a better schedule, but she says no, you can only see him 3 days a month and that is it. And now the new boyfriend is starting to get involved some. I ignore him. She tells me over and over she wants nothing. I keep getting told all the time, that unwed fathers have no rights at all. Even if they want to be involved in there childs life. That stinks if that is true.

[cyjeff]

If you want structured visitation, you get a court to order it.

[jk]

I keep getting told all the time, that unwed fathers have no rights at all. Even if they want to be involved in there childs life. That stinks if that is true.

whoever told you that is wrong but if you want to exercise your rights, you , or she, is going to have to go to the courts and ask them to settle custody and visitation.

well we had plans and i wasnt able to take him back, and she kept treathing me she was going to call the cops and have me charged with kidnapping. Can she do that?

of course she could but without a custody order, there is nothing the police should do. I say should because without a court order, they do not have the right to demand you return the child to her but in the interest of keeping the peace, they may "strongly suggest" it.

. Can I just keep him and let him live with me?

technically, yes.

what you need to do is go to court. If you want custody, then request it. It is not impossible for a father to gain custody of their child. Most courts seem to tend to gear it towards the woman having custody but each case is an individual case and can go either way.

[raloeb]

Thank you for your reply, i see that the ORC states that "unwed mothers have sole custody", and figured least they would do would be to charge me with interferance with custody. Misdemeanor. Guess it be best if get a lawyer, and not let this drag out.