Never Want to Tell the Father

Florida:
I just found out I am pregnant with the child of a one night stand. I am 40 and I just found out he was 19, and I am horrified.
I am not married.
I want to keep the child, but will only keep the child if I can never tell the father about it, or wait at least 10 years to tell him.
If I have to tell him, I will abort.
What are his/my rights?
If I get married after conception to someone who is not the father, and put the new person's name on the birth certificate, does that new man have custody? What if we do not marry, can the new man's name go on the birth certificate, giving him parental rights if we live together?
Can the real father sue me for custody at any point?

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Quoting monique8

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Florida:
I just found out I am pregnant with the child of a one night stand. I am 40 and I just found out he was 19, and I am horrified.
I am not married.
I want to keep the child, but will only keep the child if I can never tell the father about it, or wait at least 10 years to tell him.
If I have to tell him, I will abort.
What are his/my rights?
If I get married after conception to someone who is not the father, and put the new person's name on the birth certificate, does that new man have custody? What if we do not marry, can the new man's name go on the birth certificate, giving him parental rights if we live together?
Can the real father sue me for custody at any point?

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You NEED to speak to an attorney ASAP. You can get a consult for 30 minutes for $25 by calling the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service.

YES- At any time from birth to age 18, the father has the right to go to court to establish paternity, custody, visitation and CS.

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I just found out I am pregnant with the child of a one night stand. I am 40 and I just found out he was 19, and I am horrified.

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How old did you think he was?

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I am not married.

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Not relevant.

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I want to keep the child, but will only keep the child if I can never tell the father about it, or wait at least 10 years to tell him.
If I have to tell him, I will abort.

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Wow.
So the life of your child completely hinges on whether or not you have to tell the father?

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What are his/my rights?

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Once the father establishes paternity, he can request visitation as allowed by the court.

You can petition for child support.

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If I get married after conception to someone who is not the father, and put the new person's name on the birth certificate, does that new man have custody? What if we do not marry, can the new man's name go on the birth certificate, giving him parental rights if we live together?

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I also recommend against knowingly falsifying state documents.

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Can the real father sue me for custody at any point?

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Sure.

I guess I just signed your child's death warrant because you don't want to fess up that you slept with someone half your age.

If you don't want people to respond to inflammatory, personal stuff you insert into your post, leave it out. It has absolutely no relevance to your legal query, and you have to know that something like that is going to provoke a response.

But I thought you knew: I dont KNOW what is legally relevant. Hmmm. That's why I am
posting ugly private details of my life, to get information based on the facts. And entering what I thought was a trust with legal professionals willing to do a service for vulnerable parties in need.

To clarify, I am not willing to ruin 2 lives because of my stupid mistake. I'd rather take the consequences myself, raise it myself until the father has had a chance to build a life.

I also read on other posts that a baby born under wedlock was considered the husbands child. I am trying to find out if that is legally correct, not to falsify documents.

Add to above message:
Cyjeff's logic isn't straight: 'fessing up about sleeping with someone half my age'? I just posted it! Others know. HE knows I slept with him as a 19 year old! He thinks I think he's 25. He lied about his age. Still my own stupid mistake. But it has nothing to do with 'fessing up'. Cyjeff is pretty cruel, but hey, knock yourself out if that's what you're here for.

To clarify, I am not willing to ruin 2 lives because of my stupid mistake. The only other option I'd consider is I'd rather take the consequences myself, raise it myself until the father has had a chance to build a life.

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Quoting monique8

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I also read on other posts that a baby born under wedlock was considered the husbands child. I am trying to find out if that is legally correct, not to falsify documents.

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That's correct, but I hope that your potential husband knows the truth. Otherwise, you will be creating a situation that will cause lots of heartbreak in the future for all involved.

Even if he knows the truth, if the biological father finds out and pursues custody or visitation later down the line, how do you think your child will feel? The same goes for waiting 10 years to tell the biodad. You are really playing with fire IMO.

The guy knows everything, is prepared for that. I would be honest with the child. But this whole situation is bad.

So, if I marry someone else, they are legally the father's child if I give birth in wedlock, and can put their name on the birth certificate?
Even tho I realize the bio father can petition for his own rights in the future. So, it's like the non-bio father choosing to adopt the child as his own, and take over parental rights until proven otherwise?
Then, in the future, if the bio father wants to exercise his rights, he would share custody of the child automatically with the non-bio father, or the non-bio father would have to give up his rights?
I need all the facts before I can sort out exactly what this situation is, so everyone knows up front.

If you want everyone to know up front i hope that includes letting the bio father know he has a child and that means now, not 10 years from now.