My husband has a 1 1/2 year old daughter as a result of cheating on me in the past. We are married and have a 5 yr old daughter. Anyway, the mother of his child has been raising her and we have only been able to see her 4-5 times since she was born. We have offered to pay child support when she was born, but the mother didn't want, she said she had everything she needed for her. We offered to buy her things as well, but the mother doesn't want. Well, when we started to have visits w/her, we always bring her a few things, whether it be clothes, toys, etc. when we do visit w/her, we can only visit with her for about 1-2 hours, and we can't visit w/her without the mother being there. The child is very spoiled to her mother, and I don't blame her because she is the only one she knows. My husband wants to have a good relationship w/his daughter, but it is hard to accomplish when she doesn't even want to go to him because the mother is around. We are well to do people, it's not like we do drugs or party or anything like that, but she pretty much refuses to even let us bring her to our family get-togethers w/out the mother going. We are thinking about going through the court to get some kind of custody so we can have a relationship with her, but we are nervous about the cost... we aren't made of money. We are also worried about my husband having to pay child support, he doesn't have a job, I work and support our family. What do you think about this situation? Do you think he has a good chance of getting joint custody of the child? Also, do you think he will be required to pay child support?

Of course he will be ordered to pay child support. And the only way for him to get any real custody is by taking it to and through the courts.

Custody and child support are separate issues but in some states it does have an effect on how much support is being paid.

The child deserves both parents support and both parents in their lives.

Yea, we kind of figure he will have to pay some child support, just nervous on how much. But, we both want a relationship with her, and we also want our daughter to have a good relationship with her as well, that's why we feel we will have to do something legally. The mother is okay with us having a relationship w/her, she just thinks that if we have one w/the daughter, we have to have one w/her. And if she is always around when my husband visits with his child, how are they suppose to actually bond?

we have offered to pay child support . we offered to buy her things as well, but the mother doesn't want. well, when we started to have visits

Sorry but the legal truth is:
Your husband may have rights but you do not have dogs in that fight.Legally you are no one.

...we aren't made of money. we are also worried about my husband having to pay child support, he doesn't have a job, i work and support our family. what do you think about this situation? do you think he has a good chance of getting joint custody of the child? also, do you think he will be required to pay child support?

The best of the best.;)'we are also worried about my husband having to pay child support'

By the way if the case is in Tn your husband will be ordered to pay child support from birth,birth expenses and rate of interest.;)