Custody Following Newly Established Paternity

He is bragging about not being on his company’s payroll.

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Quoting Dogmatique

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What exactly are your goals here?



ROFL. I suggest you actually take the time to research the current state of father's rights and custody in Florida.

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You can laugh if you want to, but no one should make that kind of life changing decision based on just one stranger's opinion.

OP has apparently already consulted with at least one attorney.

Yes, I have. At this point, there’s been nothing filed in the custody area, which is where I will be using her.

If it’s worth anything, we live in a “small town” in Florida.

I don’t see how any judge could ever throw my son into a 50/50 arrangement overnight without allowing some type of period where my three year old can at least know what this man looks like...how is that helpful to ANYONE besides dad? How is that “the best interest”? It’s not. It’s traumatic.

He has known about our son since the day I found out I was pregnant and dipped out because he didn’t want to pay for him.

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Quoting MommyRN5

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Dogmatique,
My goals in this situation are to have a step up plan, and give my son an opportunity to actually know his face, and who he is.

I want them to have a relationship, and I know that splitting custody is the end result. My main focus at this point is the initial period of time after he files for custody. I want an adjustment period for the sake of my son. I don’t want him to have the same amount of time at his house and mine when he doesn’t even know this man. I want there to be supervised visits, working our way into a 50/50 custody arrangement.

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Honestly that seems pretty reasonable - the father is a stranger to this child and through his own fault it sounds like. No one here knows what will happen in court - but I would think most judges would approve supervised visitation and build up to unsupervised as the child gets to know this person.

If I were you I'd go talk to a few different lawyers. Most give free consultations. I mean you don't buy the first car you see right? Shop around lawyers find one that works for you.

Well there we go. A stepped up plan to 50/50 sounds ideal!

Is this likely?

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Quoting MommyRN5

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Is this likely?

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That's a question for your local attorney as he or she will know what the judges have historically done.

What if dad makes no attempt to see our son after the child support hearing?

For example, let’s say he contributes to his court-ordered child support but does not see our son for 6 months through his own free will? Remember... I have been the one initiating visits together that he has ignored.

Will a judge take that into consideration? Just curious what type of effect that may have on all of this, if any.

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Quoting MommyRN5

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What if dad makes no attempt to see our son after the child support hearing?

For example, let’s say he contributes to his court-ordered child support but does not see our son for 6 months through his own free will? Remember... I have been the one initiating visits together that he has ignored.

Will a judge take that into consideration? Just curious what type of effect that may have on all of this, if any.

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If he chooses not to exercise his visitation then you will be able to take it back to court for a modification.