Check out some similar questions!

desperatedad · Oct 9, 2008, 10:07 PM

Hi! I had a child with a woman in my younger years things did not work out. I have been in my sons life ever since he was born. I moved out of state four years ago to get my life together and left him with her because she proved to be a responsible and loving mother. I moved on and have two kids with the woman of my dreams in the current state that I am in. I recently discovered from my family that she abandened my son and left him with her grama and I never signed my parental rights over to her or went to court t give her custody. The question I desperatly need answers for is since she abondened him can't I go down there and pick him up? Will I have to go to court with her grandma or can I just have my son?

JudyKayTee · Oct 10, 2008, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by desperatedad

hi! I had a child with a woman in my younger years things did not work out. I have been in my sons life ever since he was born. I moved out of state four years ago to get my life together and left him with her because she proved to be a responsible and loving mother. I moved on and have two kids with the woman of my dreams in the current state that I am in. I recently discovered from my family that she abandened my son and left him with her grama and I never signed my parental rights over to her or went to court t give her custody. the question I desperatly need answers for is since she abondened him can't I go down there and pick him up?! will I have to go to court with her grandma or can I just have my son?

Are you the acknowledged father? Or do you just operate on the presumption that you are?

I would go to that State, take your proof of paternity and get a custody order. No, you can't just swoop down and pick the child up without very probably getting criminally charged. I trust you've been paying support during this time.

ScottGem · Oct 10, 2008, 06:23 AM

I doubt if the mom signed over her rights or went to court. So its not surprising that you didn't.

Since you moved, how many times have you seen or contacted your son? Did you continue to pay child support for those four years?

How do you know the mom "abandoned" the child. Might it not be that she asked her parents to take care of him because she needed to get her act together?

I think you need to first look at your role over the last 4 years (people in glass houses... ) and then get the facts about the current care of your son, before you go off half-cocked.