Texas Child Custody Legal Questions

Your dad can file a motion to modify and get temporary orders allowing you to live with him right away. Three days notice must be given to your mom before the hearing. At the hearing you will talk to the judge privately and if the judge agrees that it is in your best interest you will get to go live with your dad and your mom will pay a little in child support. Call your dad and have him hire a lawyer right away.... Read More

You could have signed the affidavit of paternity when the child was born (I'm assuming you're not married to the mother). Washington doesn't have custody as such. If what you mean is that the child lives with you the majority of time, it must be without a court order, which gives you no rights at all. Only a court order can make you the legal father of the child. If such and order was granted, placing the child with you, the order should have also given instructions to amend the birth certificate. If it didn't you can go back to court and ask the court to order that. If the child is living with you without any orders, you need to file a parentage action to make it all legal by getting the birth certificate amended, getting a parenting plan and a child support order. Without the parenting plan, the mother can take the child any time she wants, since in the eyes of the law you are not the father.... Read More

Your best chance to pursue this goal is to address it at the final hearing when paternity is recognized by the court. Your pleadings should have already requested this relief. When non-paternity is recognized by the judge, that is the time to demand reimbursement terms be put in the final order.... Read More

A lot of your question depends on how long the child has lived in Florida. If its been less than 6 months chances are that Maine still has jurisdiction. If Maine law is anything like Minnesota law it would be a matter of asking the court to amend the paternity order to direct that your name is added to the birth certificate. From there you'd have to transfer the Maine court order to Washington state for a Washington court to direct its vital statistics agency to amend the birth certificate. However you should consult an experienced attorney about why you think you need your name on the child's birth certificate as your goals may be more easily achieved by a manner other than amending the birth certificate.... Read More

In Arizona there is a statute that provides for what must occur if a parent wishes to relocate a child more than 100 miles. Here is a link to that statute, Arizona Revised Statutes section 25-408: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/25/00408.htm&Title=25&DocType=ARS You should consult with an experienced Arizona Family law attorney to discuss what you should do.... Read More

If you are not married to the father, you only have to let the child see him if there is a court order to do so. If there is a risk of the father fleeing to Mexico with the child, go to court, get a proper order, including one that has you have control of the passport and prohibits the father from taking the child out of the jurisdiction. Then write to homeland security, send a copy of the order and he will be put on a list so he can't take the child out of the country.... Read More

If there are no court orders in place then generally speaking you are free to move with the child. However, there is a six month period where the child's father could file a petition in the jurisdiction where he is, asking the court there to enter orders about legal decision making (custody) and parenting time. Before making a move you should consult with an experienced Arizona family law attorney in your area.... Read More

Yes you will need a lawyer. His rights can be terminated voluntarily by him signing an affidavit prepared by the attorney. If he refuses to sign his rights can be terminated due to his failure to register his paternity with the state paternity registry. That is the easiest way, but there are other ways too. A social study by a court approved social worker is also a prerequisite to the adoption. The process should take about two months.... Read More