Custody and Visitation Without Marriage

[William10]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Fl I was never married to my childs father and although his name is on the birth certificate neither one of us has any legal document establishing custody or visitation. He has never really been around and now wants to step up. Do I have the legal right to dictate his visitation and does he have the right to come pick the child up when ever he wants?

[aardvarc]

Until and unless he goes to court and gets a visitation order, YOU are 100% in charge of any visitation you choose to allow (since you're not legally obligated to allow ANY). Even if he does to go court and get a visitation order, even that will not allow him to pick up the child whenever he wants - rather, the court will give him specific days/times, and the court will expect him to stick to those times. You'd certainly be allowed to allow MORE, but you'd still only be obligated to provide access to the child according to the court's order.