The other day me and my daughter went to court over a settlement case and she couldn't get her money due to the fact I didn't have proof of cousty, her father and I were never married and he just up and left. The money isn't the deal, she asked if I could find him and I did. Now he woun't give up his parently rights or cousty to me she hasn't seen him sense 2 years hepl what can I do?

What?

So you and the father share joint custody.

What is the problem?

Go to court and ask the Judge to give you full custody. If your daughter says this to the Judge as well, talks about the abandonment and stuff, the Judge might grant it.

But I don't quite understand why you care if he has custody or not as your daughter is 16 and not even in her life.

Although I guess if she did ever get sick, you would rather be the only one in charge, which does make sense to some degree.

Is the father listed on the birth certificate,

If not he will actually have to prove he is the father first and sue for parential rights.

If he is listed on the birth certificate why in the world did you not 16 years ago go to court and get custody and have him pay child support.

So anyway, get an attorney, file for custody and child support. Your daughter can testify in court that she wants to live with you, at her age I don't know of a court that will not take that into bearing, plus that fact that he ahs not been part of her life for 16 years this should be a slam dunk for even a 1st year law student.

As for as the settlement money, have them put it into a trust for her till she turns 18,

Next of course why did the custody issue even come up?? Was someone talking too much, First I can't even see them asking, Of course that is another issue. I have signed dozens of papers on my kids over 30 years and I can't remember anyone asking me to prove I had custody of them.

Actually most people can't beyond showing a birth certificate, how would anybody that is not divorced, or never been married even prove they have cusotdy.