[usmc_recon15]

I'm 18 and my baby's mother is 17 and we recently split ways. She says she is going to make me pay child support but I want to get custody of my newborn baby. The baby is due in January. What do I do? I have a job, live on my own, pay my bills, have a steady career at a local Prison and have insurance to where she lives with her parents, has no job, has no insurance, she does drugs and has been since she's been pregnant and she is a partier and isn't responsible. I don't want my child to live with an unfit drug using mother so how do I go about getting custody of my newborn baby? Anything comments on this would be highly appreciated. Thanks

[N0help4u]

Go to family court and apply for full custody and then it will be up to the Judge to grant you full or joint custody. Often they go by who would be the better provider but it is up to the Judge. You tell the Judge all your concerns and have things documented like dates and what occurred that concern you.

[Fr_Chuck]

This is going to sound sort of bad, but you did not have a problem sleeping with a drug using person not fit to raise a child, but now don't want her to raise your child. It is unlikely unless you can prove her a danger to the child that you will get custody, you may try for joint custody if you can not. Also you did not say what state for example GA this could be considered stat rape since the age of consent is 18 and you could lose your prison job.

But to start you get an attorney since you can't file anything till the child is born.

[smokedetector]

What kind of job do you have at the prison? If it is one of those 24 on/24 off or whatever, you will have to show that you have a place for you child to go while you are at work, (not just a regular 9-5 childcare place). You will also need to prove her drug habit, and possibly prove that she is a danger AFTER the child is born (I don't know if it will mean anything to the judge, but she can say she changed her ways when she gave birth, and unless you can prove she is a danger to the child now, the judge might believe her? I guess it depends on the judge though). Also, sorry, but I kind of agree with Chuck here. But I guess it's too late for that now. If she really is a danger, I hope you get custody. But yes, I also suggest getting a lawyer. Best of luck.

[talaniman]

You have to prove paternity and go through the courts. This can only be done after the child is born. The burden of proof is on you to prove she is unfit. That won't be easy.

[liz28]

If she doing drugs while she is pregnant it will show once the child is born. My friend smoke marijuana while she was pregnant and it showed in the baby system once she was born and acs make her attend a drug program and she has a open case to do this day, daughter 5, and will until her child is 18. This might help your case but acs try to keep mother and child together.

It does not matter who the mother live with as long as the place is safe and there's room. Get a good lawyer and see what happens. Also, that only can they make you pay child support but if you've insurance and she don't she can request for you to add the child to it and pay half of any hospital bills related to the child birth and/or prenatal care. After your proven to be the child father, of course.