:confused: I, have a situation where the mother threatens the father that if he does something she will take the baby away from him and never let him see the babyh again. The child is now only a few months old. Her sister is now also telling the father he has NO rights then to see the baby if she takes him away and things like that.

The mother of the child lives in one town with her parents and the father of the child lives in the other town with his parents (he is currently selling an erf to get money to build a house for them). The both are over 25years.

The parents are engaged at the moment but aren't living together but the father goes down to the mother and visit them and she also comes and visits the father and so on.

I want to know what is the rights of the father regarding the baby?

Is there any change that the baby will be able to live with him?

How does one go about with situations like these?

I will really appreciate your help urgently!

He needs to go to court to get a custody/visitation order.

Until he has that, then nope--he hasn't established any rights, and she CAN withhold the child. Once he gets legal paperwork stating what his custody and visitation rights are, then she can't withhold the child without being in contempt of court.

I need urgent help!

A family member of mine has a problem and approached me to help him with it.

He and his fiancée has a baby son that was born in February 2008 this year.

The mother of the child comes to visit him here and he goes down to her town also regularly to visit them. He lives with his parents (he is still busy building a house on an erf he has purchased) and she lives with her parents in a complete other town. He supports the mother and child and gives a huge contribute of his salary to her to buy the things for the baby (nappies clothes etc)

Her sister has recently started with stories that he has no rights on the baby whatsoever and if the mother decides to take the baby away he won't be able to see the baby again.

The mother has not yet started with things like this, only in things she calls "jokes"

He has a pretty good salary, the baby is on his medical aid and as I said he supports him every month.

What is his rights regarding the child?

Will he be able to get the child to live with him or from what age can the child be able to live with the father?

We only need some answers for this, just to be prepaired when the mother hits us with something like this.

Thank you for your time and I will appreciate urgent feedback from anyone:confused:

First off he needs to file for custody of the child and to get court approved DNA testing done for reasons of perternity. Also he needs to keep every receipt for everything he has done for the child and prepare himself to pay state mandated child support. Right now it all sounds good but if he isn't on the birth certificate then he may have no rights without fighting for them. And the time is now to establish his rights so he may continue to visit with his child. Because we are talking about a baby his visitation may be on a graduated level i.e. visits contained in moms home or other nuetral setting until the child is over 1 years age then more time as the child gets older. Good Luck.

:confused: I, have a situation where the mother threatens the father that if he does something she will take the baby away from him and never let him see the babyh again. The child is now only a few months old. Her sister is now also telling the father he has NO rights then to see the baby if she takes him away and things like that.

The mother of the child lives in one town with her parents and the father of the child lives in the other town with his parents (he is currently selling an erf to get money to build a house for them). The both are over 25years.

The parents are engaged at the moment but aren't living together but the father goes down to the mother and visit them and she also comes and visits the father and so on.

I want to know what is the rights of the father regarding the baby?

Is there any change that the baby will be able to live with him?

How does one go about with situations like these?

I will really appreciate your help urgently!


You have posted this twice - never a good idea because it gets confusing. I thought the mother had never threatened, only the sister - ?

Threads merged

OK, I'm confused. Has the mother threatened or just the sister?? You've told the story both way.

I agree with Synnen, if the father wants to have any time with his child he needs to get the courts involved. He can file for full or joint custody. The courts will set the "rules" (which I use lightly) in regards to visitation and child support. I hope he is keeping record of how much he is giving the mother every month to help with expenses. It's best if he gives money to her by cheque so he has proof that he's paid if it ever comes up in court.
He could also purchase the things the baby needs and keep the receipts as proof.

I question why there is such a concern when you say they are engaged and he's building a house for the three of them to live in.