My daughters father left 7 years ago and has only started paying support within the last year. My daughter now wants to go live with him. Does he have any legal rights?

Hes the father of the child. Yes he has rights. And depending on the age og the child their voice might be taken under considertion. He will need to go to court to make it official. But by all means he has rights just like you do.

Yes, he always had "rights" his legal rights are defined by court order. So what is the current custody agreement ordered by the court ? What is his current order for visitation? And if the child support court ordered?

But yes, he can go to court and ask for additional visits, he can ask for joint custody, or even ask for custody.

If he has not been involved, there may be gradual levels given it can just depend on court.
While the court may listen to what a child wants ( depends on age of child) but the court will also look at the over all needs and best interest of the child.

Depends on what state you're in. And since you're saying "my daughter's father" it sounds to me like you were never married. In Florida, an unwed father can be ordered to pay child support, but doesn't necessarily have any visitation rights whatsoever until and unless he asserts them.
Judy L.

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Originally Posted by JudyLaw

Depends on what state you're in. And since you're saying "my daughter's father" it sounds to me like you were never married. In Florida, an unwed father can be ordered to pay child support, but doesn't necessarily have any visitation rights whatsoever until and unless he asserts them.
Judy L.
REMOVED

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Please don't use AMHD to solicit business for yourself - it's not allowed. I notice sometimes you are Ruth. Other times you are Judy. Two people are not allowed to share one account.

You might want to brush up on AMHD rules before you continue.

In ALL States the biological father can and will be ordered to pay support. "Unwed" has nothing to do with that.

Support has to be ordered and if he wants to exercise his right to visit or to have custody, then he needs a Court Order for those rights. He HAS the rights - he just needs the Court to order and enforce them.

It's not a question of asserting rights - they have to be ordered.

And once again, in Florida, BTW, a father's rights to visitation have everything to do with whether he was married to the mother. READ UP.

Judy Ruth Law

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Originally Posted by JudyLaw

And once again, in Florida, BTW, a father's rights to visitation have everything to do with whether he was married to the mother. READ UP.

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Can you quote the law on this one? All fathers have inherent rights and the only difference between married and unmarried may be in the establishment of the legal father. It may be an extra step but they have the same rights under the law.

I will agree, the father married or not married all have the same "rights" it is a matter of what is needed to enforce those rights. A non married father will merely have to prove paternity, which would be part of the filing for custody or visits. So really not even an extra step but merely a test included in the filing.

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Originally Posted by JudyLaw

Sorry, my user name is JudyLaw, I am also known as Ruth.

And once again, in Florida, BTW, a father's rights to visitation have everything to do with whether he was married to the mother. READ UP.

Judy Ruth Law - REMOVED

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I did "read up." I am reading that an unmarried father has the same rights to visitation as a married father.

Please post your research.

I find it odd that you have one name and another nickname and post, apparently interchangeably, in both. In fact, I find it humorous that you are now signing posts "Judy Ruth Law," contrary to what you posted yesterday.

At any rate, no, I'm neither a moderator or owner. I'm someone who is a long-time member. If you see being reminded of the rules as an attempt to intimidate you you're in the wrong business!