Father is Seeking Custody

[cyb3rd0rk]

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

Ok so here is just a little info before I get into detail.
I'm engaged to a woman that has a 3 year old daughter. She has had full custody of her since birth. The father only gets her every other weekend and we rotate holidays. Both my fiance and I work 3rd shift so we have our daughter's grandparents / greatgrandparents watch her at night while we work and have her at daycare in the mornings while we catch a quick snooze. Nothing has been worked out in the courts with the biological father except for child support.

A little bit about the biological father. He has never pushed for custody before since she has been born. He has had numerous run ins with the law but nothing major. He had over due tickets/fines for years and lost his liscense due to some of this. Also he has caused nothing but drama for my fiance with the child continuously undermining her. He barely seems to be able to take her on the weekends most the time asking us to pick her daughter up early and showing up late to pick her up because he needs his sleep working his 3rd shift job he claims. Recently he has paid enough of his fines to regain his license and purchase a new car.

A little bit about us. We've known eachother for a few years now. Dated about a year and just recently got engaged. We both have no criminal record beside minor traffic violations. Both work well paying 3rd shift jobs. Also having custody of her all the time except every other weekends, including us picking her up early and what not when he "can't" watch her.

Now here is where it gets sticky. Her biological father has worked 3rd shift also and has never pressed custody. He has just recently obtained a 1st shift job and we forsee him taking us to court for custody. Is him getting a 1st shift job enough to win custody? Or will we still have a good chance at keeping her?

Sincerely,
Desperate Iowan

(Sorry for all the repeats, I'm not the best writer :P)

[Dogmatique]

He has at least a decent chance of getting custody.

[cyb3rd0rk]

Another note I forgot. My fiance's hours are possibly changing. She will be going to a 3rd/1st shift. Possibly going to work from 3am - 11am. So we'd have her daughter at night and just take her to daycare very early in the morning.

[Dogmatique]

Let's try this again.

Why shouldn't Dad have his child if he's available?

[cyb3rd0rk]

Well it'll sound very one sided here. But basically he doesn't care for the child but more to ruin my fiance's relationship with the child. He rarely puts forth any effort to see her or do anything with here. In fact before I was in the picture he wouldn't call or anything to talk to his daughter. But when I showed up jealousy set in and he maybe calls once a month. Understandable because I'm sure he felt replaced. Also when I started dating her, he was completely against it. He actually reported me for "sexually harassing" his daughter and took her to the hospital. All which was 100% BS and he was proven wrong. He just did it to start drama in our relationship. He can barely take care of his child on the weekends he has her let alone have full custody of her.

Yes this sounds like a rant but you asked. I'm sure most of which won't hold up in court.

[Dogmatique]

If I had a dollar for every time I've read that sort of thing...

But you're right, it's a rant, and the court doesn't care.

If Dad takes it to court, he has a chance. So does Mom. They'll each make their case.