My sister is 4 months pregnant and isn't married to the child's Father. They had a rough break-up so now he is threatening to take the child from her not matter what. She is 21 and still lives at home with our parents, doesn't have a job, and isn't going to school. However, she wants this baby more than anything. He is a scumbag, working at a fast food restaurant and has drug problems that haven't been documented. Does anyone have any advice on what she needs to do to try and get custody of the child? Please help.

When the baby is born file for child support and custody. Other then that it is a waiting game.

Nothing can be decided upon until the child is born. THEN something can be done legally to have her gain full custody. Until then have her ignore all his threats, etc. as he probably is just blowing smoke to make her upset. It takes a good attorney to turn a pig's ear into a purse - him being the pig's ear that is and I would not even begin to entertain the fact that he would be able to prove he's a good candidate to raise a baby.

As of now she is the child's custodian. She will remain so after birth until the father of the baby goes to court to fight for custody.

Here at my hospital I am not allowed to release the baby to anyone other than the mother at the time of discharge. However, it is possible to have that baby discharged to another third party in certain circumstances. He will have to go to court to fight for custody and prove her unfit or the baby will indeed remain in her custody.

What happens is she has to wait till the baby is born, the bio father has a right to file for custody, for joint custody or for visits.

Normally unless there is some real threat, the bio mother will always get at least joint custody, as with the father, unless there is documented threats to the child, a father can often get joint custody also ( it is his child also)

But at the least, the father can get visitation time with the child as long as there is no proven danger to child.