I live in Nebraska and my ex and I dated for about 2 years and I recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. After I became pregnant we broke up (he wanted me to have an abortion or put her up for adoption) and had very little contact throughout the pregnancy. The baby does not have his last name and he has only seen her a handful of times since birth. I recently filed for child support and DNA verifies he is father. I was just served papers saying he wants full custody and for me to pay child support. I am 40 and have a good job and am a fabulous mother. He is 44, self employed with the potential to earn much more than I, but he travels for work about 200 days per year. What are the chances he will get full custody? Would joint custody even be feasible with his travel schedule and the distance between us? I am beside myself with grief! The prospect of losing my precious girl has me so upset I can't breathe!

He will attempt to prove you are unfit and/or a danger to the child. You will attempt to prove that you are not.

I don't see you losing custody if things are as you describe BUT as the father he is entitled to visitiation, perhaps joint custody. You refer to the distance between the two of you but I don't see that set forth in your question.

Again - as the father, he has rights to see his child. When there is a distance the Court often decides on alternate weekends instead of an overnight here and an overnight there. The Court may also - when the child is not in school - rule that the father has visitation for a week (or so) at a time.

Distance is not going to cost him visitation. Unless you are unfit or a danger, as I said, I see no reason for you to lose custody.

Sounds like a power play, most likely to try and scare you. What has your attorney said about this.

He may get Joint custody if he is living close enough and can provide a home for them. But unless he can prove you a danager to the children, no he will not get full custody.

He will get at least visits, most likely this is a plan on his point to get you to settle for a lot less than you want from him.

Thank you so much for your quick responses.
I haven't yet met with an attorney (wil first thing Monday). I'm sure I will need outstanding representation.
My ex and I live about an hour apart, not a huge distance but too great to shuttle baby back and forth constantly.