My 9-year-old son currently lives with his dad full-time. I had him until he was 4, but due to hard times, I asked his dad to take care of him. Since then, he has blocked me from contacting my son, moved, and ignored my attempts to see him. We were never married, and I’ve never signed my rights away or gone to court. What legal steps can I take to bring him home? What can his dad do to stop me? Do I need to go to court for this?
You definitely need an attorney to help you navigate this situation. What county are you in?
You should file a petition to establish a parent-child relationship. This can help with custody arrangements and child support. Be prepared for potential support payments.
Technically, without a custody agreement, you could keep him, but that might cause more issues. It’s safer to go through the courts and document everything.
Go to court immediately! You need to establish custody formally as soon as possible.
He’s been with his dad for over 6 months now, so wouldn’t that make it his residence? What factors does the court consider for custody?