Step-Mom Took My Daughter to the Chiropractor

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

My daughter's dad and I were never married and he wasn't in the picture when she was born so he is not on the birth certificate. Through the years she has spent more time with him to where now she splits her time between the two houses. I found out yesterday from my daughter that her step-mom took her to the chiropractor and she had an adjustment made. It's my understanding that she's not allowed to do this but am I correct and what can I do to prevent this happening in the future?

This sounds like there is no court involved with the child and custody/visitation, is that correct?

Yes, that is correct. I had a consultation with a lawyer when my daughter first started doing split visitation. I was advised that the court would consider precedence but the father still had no legal rights since he's not on the birth certificate.

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Quoting Nic4816

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

My daughter's dad and I were never married and he wasn't in the picture when she was born so he is not on the birth certificate. Through the years she has spent more time with him to where now she splits her time between the two houses. I found out yesterday from my daughter that her step-mom took her to the chiropractor and she had an adjustment made. It's my understanding that she's not allowed to do this but am I correct and what can I do to prevent this happening in the future?

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What's the problem with her step mom taking her to an appointment? Did you not know about it? Is that the issue or what I'm confused. If dad can't take her to an appointment why can't stepmom if you know about it?

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Quoting Nic4816

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

My daughter's dad and I were never married and he wasn't in the picture when she was born so he is not on the birth certificate. Through the years she has spent more time with him to where now she splits her time between the two houses. I found out yesterday from my daughter that her step-mom took her to the chiropractor and she had an adjustment made. It's my understanding that she's not allowed to do this but am I correct and what can I do to prevent this happening in the future?

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Make it absolutely clear to the chiropractor that he is not to treat your daughter under any circumstances.

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Quoting qwaspolk69

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What's the problem with her step mom taking her to an appointment? Did you not know about it? Is that the issue or what I'm confused. If dad can't take her to an appointment why can't stepmom if you know about it?

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Its very controversial to do chiropractic adjustments on a child. There would generally be no reason to do so. Dad is not legally dad so he has no right to make medical decisions for the child, therefore his wife certainly has no legal right to do so.

I wouldn't want my child to have an adjustment at a chiropractor, period. Her dad has no right to make medical decisions, so regardless of who physically took the child, the child shouldn't have been treated by a doctor without the mother's consent, barring a life threatening situation.

Okay she didn't post all the details and I realize he's not legally the father - so I'm asking was it an appointment already made or not? If it was - then what is the issue if it was something she already knew about? If it wasn't then yeah it's a problem.

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Quoting qwaspolk69

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Okay she didn't post all the details and I realize he's not legally the father - so I'm asking was it an appointment already made or not? If it was - then what is the issue if it was something she already knew about? If it wasn't then yeah it's a problem.

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I think that she would not be here if the child had an appointment with the chiropractor that she approved. You are focusing on "stepmom taking" when the issue is the adjustment done by the chiropractor.

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Quoting llworking

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I think that she would not be here if the child had an appointment with the chiropractor that she approved. You are focusing on "stepmom taking" when the issue is the adjustment done by the chiropractor.

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"Thumbs up emoji here."

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Quoting Nic4816

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My daughter's dad and I were never married and he wasn't in the picture when she was born so he is not on the birth certificate.

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If I understand your follow up post, his paternity was never established. Correct? If so, then, in the eyes of the law, this man is not the child's father.

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Quoting Nic4816

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It's my understanding that she's not allowed to do this but am I correct and what can I do to prevent this happening in the future?

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Since the man in question is not legally the child's father, he has no legal authority or right to consent to medical treatment for the child, so the same is true for his wife. Of course, I'm sure the chiropractor had no reason to disbelieve that the person who brought the child in for treatment lacked the necessary authority.

The rather obvious first step to take here is to discuss with the "father" your concerns about what happened. As someone else mentioned, you can notify this particular chiropractor about the situation and demand that no further treatment be rendered. Of course, there are probably other chiropractors around. If you can't work this out, then the smart thing would be to seek appropriate custody orders.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear! Her dad is not allowed to take her to appointments without my knowledge and approval. In this instance I was not made aware of the appointment until after it happened.

Correct

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Quoting Nic4816

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I'm sorry I wasn't clear! Her dad is not allowed to take her to appointments without my knowledge and approval. In this instance I was not made aware of the appointment until after it happened.

Correct

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Did he say why he decided that she needed a chiropractic adjustment?

I was told that scoliosis runs in their family. This also brought me concern because I was never made aware of this and she is in sports and martial arts.

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Quoting Nic4816

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I was told that scoliosis runs in their family. This also brought me concern because I was never made aware of this and she is in sports and martial arts.

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Unacceptable. If your daughter gets regular well exams, the pediatrician checks for this. Taking a kid for an unnecessary appointment for "what if" reasons is weird, and in this case, not allowed.

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Quoting Nic4816

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It's my understanding that she's not allowed to do this but am I correct and what can I do to prevent this happening in the future?

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Is there a custody and support order in effect? If so, does the order actually have a provision to the effect of, "Dad can't take the child to any medical appointments without mom's approval"?

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Quoting Nic4816

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I'm sorry I wasn't clear! Her dad is not allowed to take her to appointments without my knowledge and approval.

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So there is a court order that addresses these issues? If so, then dad's paternity will have been adjudicated within the context of the proceeding that resulted in that order, whether or not you and he followed through to correct the child's birth certificate.