I live in Arizona and I have a daughter who is now 3. The father left a month after I found out I was pregnant, deleted profiles, etc. every time I tried contacting him about it. Even when I told him about her complications at birth. I met him again last September, my daughter met him, and he still never showed any interest. It's been a year and he still never asked how she was, what she been through, doesn't know anything about her. We have court for paternity and child support in August. He told me he won't ask for anything like visitations or anything, and I want it to be that way. We both have our lives (him with his wife&kids) and me with my girl. There is nothing to show I'm unfit or that I'm not a good SINGLE parent, but I know courts try and encourage visits and stuff to BOTH parents. If he doesn't ask or speak up when I go in and ask if I can get sole custody will they bring it up or no? I know I will look like the bad guy for not wanting visitations, but for 3years he's done nothing but try and avoid her, still is. He's skitzo-effective, told me he doesn't take pills, talked about suicide in September when I met him, and can hardly take care of the kids he has now with his wife. I have an opportunity at a great college in WA and with visitations rights (as much as I don't agree with this) I was told by people I need to ask a judge if I can move. To me, that's not right. I don't want our lives to be bothered, stopped because I had to file for child support when I don't even want it. I just want things how they were.
Please, if you can give me any advice. I just want to continue raising my baby girl around an environment she's used to and loves. NOBODY knows her better than me and I just don't want everything to go downhill with my school/better future for us because of this.
Just want to know how I can get sole custody and him having no rights/visits.