QUESTION
If you have custody for the last 13 years with no visitation, can the father still see the child?
Asked on Oct 19th, 2016 on Child Custody - Pennsylvania
More details to this question:
The father was in prison but now he is out. The child never met him. The father lives in another county. Can he take me back to court to see his child and where would it be? Can my child talk to the judge if he does not want to meet him? He wants his stepdad to adopt him. But, the father won’t sign and never paid child support nor there was an order. Was told I would never receive any due to him being in jail?
1 ANSWER
3 Awards
Unless the biological father agrees to voluntarily relinquish/terminate his parental rights, you cannot stop him from being a parent barring his death or abandonment. You could sue for support now that he is out of jail. You could offer him to waive support if he relinquishes his parental rights. If he decides to pursue visitation or custody, the court will start slow. At best he will likely start with supervised visits, maybe twice a month or once a week. If he demonstrates he is an interested and loving parent and consistently visits, the court could increase his visits in increments, upon his request. Your attorney can ask the court to order an evaluation or ask that the father take parenting classes.
Answered on Nov 15th, 2016 at 7:02 AM
William R. Pelger, Attorney Munhall, Pennsylvania 412-461-1900