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gleavedd · Jul 10, 2007, 04:57 PM

Sorry about the previous post. Accidentally hit enter. Anyway, my daughter (adult) is pregnant. The father had violent outbursts, and she sent him away. He has moved 3 hours away, but continues to harrass her via text pages. She does not want him around the baby. Does he have any rights if she does not put him on the birth certificate? We are in TN.

danielnoahsmommy · Jul 10, 2007, 04:58 PM

Does he already know it is his?

gleavedd · Jul 10, 2007, 05:05 PM

Yes he does.

J_9 · Jul 10, 2007, 05:14 PM

He will have rights if he demands a paternity test and the test comes out that the baby is his, but as of right now, he has none. You don't mention your daughter's age, this can be important if she is a minor.

If he is harassing her via text pages, she needs to close those down. Or put them on private so that he cannot contact her.

DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.

Have you attempted getting a restraining order?

gleavedd · Jul 10, 2007, 05:26 PM

She is keeping the posts, and Mom tells her to turn the phone off. She is 28. I don't worry that he will take the child. She does not drink, party, smoke, do drugs, etc. He is volatile. We have had the police here because of his behavior. We just don't want the baby alone with him.

Fr_Chuck · Jul 10, 2007, 05:31 PM

She needs to use the posts now to get a order of protection, A court order to demand he does not contact her.

As for as the child, yes he is the father, you don't have to list him on the birth certificate, But he will have rights if he wants them, the amount and type will be up to the court. She has the right to get child support.
Once the baby is born she needs to file for full custody and even ask for him to have no visitation ( most liekly will not get it, but you can ask)

At the most, the court will most likely allow supervised visitation, though children services. He will not visit unless there is someone there to supervise. She can and should have course also ask for child support, TN is a wonderful state, if he does not pay, he will end up in jail.

gleavedd · Jul 10, 2007, 05:42 PM

Thank you so much. She is working right now. I'm going to let her read this. We are going to contact an attorney. This little fella must be protected. So you think it is better to admit he is the father and seek child support? She wants to forget the father exists and hope he goes away.

Fr_Chuck · Jul 10, 2007, 06:17 PM

Since she will want child support and it is not fair to cheat your child out of the child's money, she may and should demand a DNA test if there is any doubt, and the father has a right to demand a DNA test to prove he is the father.

She does not have to list him on the birth certificate, but the only way to get your child support is to claim he is the father.

And if she does not, he can still come back 2 years 4 year, 5 years down the road and demand a DNA test and demand visits.
So it is better to get the legal custody in writing up front right away.

gleavedd · Jul 10, 2007, 06:54 PM

Thank you again. Do you know a way to find an attorney that is not expensive? Her income is not a lot, and I help as much as I can.

excon · Jul 11, 2007, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by gleavedd

Thank you again. Do you know a way to find an attorney that is not expensive? Her income is not a lot, and I help as much as I can.

Hello gl:

I know you weren't asking me, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Yes. Shop extremely well. It shouldn't be too tough. I'll bet you have as many unemployed lawyers down there as we do up here.

excon

gleavedd · Jul 11, 2007, 06:52 PM

Thank you.