[SicxPack]

My daughter's mother who I am no longer in a relatiomship with since year 1999 has decided that I should continue to raise our daughter solely.
However, is it in the best interest of myself and my daughter to file custody of her. Her mother and I have never been through this process. She has been the primary caregiver and has received state and county aid benefits for her.
I have not been ordered to pay any child support as I know of. But I want to ensure that while my daughter is in my care I have full legal rights of her. And in case her mother is thinking about filing child support I want to be protected.

[JudyKayTee]

My daughter's mother who I am no longer in a relatiomship with since year 1999 has decided that I should continue to raise our daughter solely.
However, is it in the best interest of myself and my daughter to file custody of her. Her mother and I have never been through this process. She has been the primary caregiver and has received state and county aid benefits for her.
I have not been ordered to pay any child support as I know of. But I want to ensure that while my daughter is in my care I have full legal rights of her. And in case her mother is thinking about filing child support I want to be protected.

If you want custody you go to Court and file papers for custody. Apparently the mother won't have a problem with that.

Yes, it's to your benefit (and your daughter's benefit) for custody to be Court-ordered. It ends all arguments.

The mother will not get child support if you have legal custody.

[Fr_Chuck]

You can expect at some point the state to come after you for support for all the years that the mother and child were receiving state aid and you were not living with them.

It can often take some time for them to process this, but you should be expecting it.

Yes you should have it all legal though the courts