Originally Posted by
harleyhowler
I have been trying to get visitation rights for a child I had in PA with a girl. Everywhere I go for help I get doors slammed in my face because as the father I have no rights. I was told it would cost me between $10,000 and $100,000 to go thru an attorney. Is this right? It has been 4 years since my daughter was born and 4 months since the mother and I split. What rights do I have?
First thing: are you listed on the birth certificate as the child's legal father? Did you sign a paternity acknowledgment or take a court-ordered DNA test(home DNA tests are not admissible in court)?
Until you are listed as the child's
legal father, you have no rights. Once you are established as the father, you have all the rights that the courts grant you - custody, visitation, etc. - but each case is unique and depends on the two parties' circumstances and backgrounds.