Hello, I am a young mother living in Massachusetts.

My son is a year old, and lives with me. When I was pregnant, his father didn't want anything to do with me or our son. He came around rarely when he was first born, and started taking him to his house for a couple days a week when he was 3 months old, but would go weeks without seeing him. He has always been in my care well over half the time since birth. I take him to every single doctor's appointment. My son's father lives with a very unsupportive family. When my son comes home, he is hungry, and sleeps less, and his regular routine is completely off. My son is used to stability. Recently, I stopped him from seeing him overnights due to neglect, carelessness. I was going to bring him to court for custody, and before I could, he filed for joint custody. He refuses any of the visits I have offered, because he doesn't want me to be there. I believe I should get sole custody and he gets visitations once a week, and every other weekend. I want my son to have a healthy relationship with his father without giving up the time I've always had with him, I deserve it. What are my chances of getting Sole Custody?

Have you gone after this joker for child support payments yet? If not do that before you worry about him getting shared custody. That should be your mission now - not the custody issue.

First sole custody does not mean he will not have the child over night on his days, he would have over night visits on his weekend and often the one weeknight also. So don't expect him not to have the child over night. And you will not be present in his time for visits, he is to visit the child not you.

Next sorry you have not given any reason he is a danger to the child, only that he has a different parenting style, So yes he has a very good chance to get joint custody. The courts may require some parenting classes if you ask for it. But while he may not parent your way, unless you prove he is a danger to the child, courts are very open at joint custody now.