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Pregnant Minor

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zippo
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Z

Zippo

Guest
What is the name of your state? Ohio

It's my understanding that I can't make my daughter have an abortion. She is 16 and claims to want to keep the child. What rights do I have...or am I responsible for this child too?

Also, the father of the child says that he is willing to take the child. Does this require some legal action even if he is the father?
 


stealth2

Under the Radar Member
You are responsible for your daughter - you have no rights/responsibilities to her child. If the father is interested in custody, he will have to first be proven to be the father (likey through a DNA test) and then file for custody.

Before you go through all that - how about providing your daughter some support? She's not in an easy situation, and could likely use a shoulder to lean on. If she can't count on her parent(s) now - what use are they?

I have a friend who found out a couple of weeks ago that his 16 yo daughter is pregnant. He's a single Dad with custody. Needless to say, he was stunned, shocked, upset - because this is not what he envisioned for his darling girl. But he's always been there for her, and intends to support her and her child to the fullest. She is a very lucky young lady to have such a parent - how lucky will your daughter be? Something to think about.
 
B

Boxcarbill

Guest
Zippo said:
What is the name of your state? Ohio

It's my understanding that I can't make my daughter have an abortion. She is 16 and claims to want to keep the child. What rights do I have...or am I responsible for this child too?

Also, the father of the child says that he is willing to take the child. Does this require some legal action even if he is the father?

Parents are responsible for their children. You are not legally responsible for your grandchild. Assuming that your daughter and the father were not married, paternity must be established. This can be established by an acknowledgment of paternity which is a legal procedure. Your daughter needs to understand her rights, duties and obligation whether she or the father takes custody of the child.
 

nailtech

Senior Member
I know this is long, but it pertains to you... especially second part... second section states if you are supporting your daughter then you can go after His parents for support once paternity has been established if he is a minor as well..

[§ 3109.04.2] § 3109.042 Custody rights of unmarried mother.
Text of Statute
An unmarried female who gives birth to a child is the sole residential parent and legal custodian of the child until a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order designating another person as the residential parent and legal custodian. A court designating the residential parent and legal custodian of a child described in this section shall treat the mother and father as standing upon an equality when making the designation.
HISTORY: 147 v H 352. Eff 1-1-98.
The effective date is set by section 4 of HB 352.
******************************************************************
§ 3109.19 Grandparent who is providing support to child born to unmarried and unemancipated minors may bring parentage or support action.

Text of Statute
(A) As used in this section, "minor" has the same meaning as in section 3107.01 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) If a child is born to parents who are unmarried and unemancipated minors, a parent of one of the minors is providing support for the minors' child, and the minors have not signed an acknowledgment of paternity or a parent and child relationship has not been established between the child and the male minor, the parent who is providing support for the child may request a determination of the existence or nonexistence of a parent and child relationship between the child and the male minor pursuant to Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code.
(2) If a child is born to parents who are unmarried and unemancipated minors, a parent of one of the minors is providing support for the child, and the minors have signed an acknowledgment of paternity that has become final pursuant to section 2151.232 [2151.23.2], 3111.25, or 3111.821 [3111.82.1] of the Revised Code or a parent and child relationship has been established between the child and the male minor pursuant to Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, the parent who is providing support for the child may file a complaint requesting that the court issue an order or may request the child support enforcement agency of the county in which the child resides to issue an administrative order requiring all of the minors' parents to pay support for the child.
(C)(1) On receipt of a complaint filed under division (B)(2) of this section, the court shall schedule a hearing to determine, in accordance with Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, the amount of child support the minors' parents are required to pay, the method of paying the support, and the method of providing for the child's health care needs. On receipt of a request under division (B)(2) of this section, the agency shall schedule a hearing to determine, in accordance with Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, the amount of child support the minors' parents are required to pay, the method of paying the support, and the method of providing for the child's health care needs. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court or agency shall issue an order requiring the payment of support of the child and provision for the child's health care needs. The court or agency shall calculate the child support amount using the income of the minors' parents instead of the income of the minors. If any of the minors' parents are divorced, the court or agency shall calculate the child support as if they were married, and issue a child support order requiring the parents to pay a portion of any support imposed as a separate obligation. If a child support order issued pursuant to section 2151.23, 2151.231 [2151.23.1], 2151.232 [2151.23.2], 3111.13, 3111.81 of the Revised Code requires one of the minors to pay support for the child, the amount the minor is required to pay shall be deducted from any amount that minor's parents are required to pay pursuant to an order issued under this section. The hearing shall be held not later than sixty days after the day the complaint is filed or the request is made nor earlier than thirty days after the court or agency gives the minors' parents notice of the action.
(2) An order issued by an agency for the payment of child support shall include a notice stating all of the following: that the parents of the minors may object to the order by filing a complaint pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section with the court requesting that the court issue an order requiring the minors' parents to pay support for the child and provide for the child's health care needs; that the complaint may be filed no later than thirty days after the date of the issuance of the agency's order; and that, if none of the parents of the minors file a complaint pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section, the agency's order is final and enforceable by a court and may be modified and enforced only in accordance with Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code.
(D) An order issued by a court or agency under this section shall remain in effect, except as modified pursuant to Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code until the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) The minor who resides with the parents required to pay support under this section reaches the age of eighteen years, dies, marries, enlists in the armed services, is deported, gains legal or physical custody of the child, or is otherwise emancipated.
(2) The child who is the subject of the order dies, is adopted, is deported, or is transferred to the legal or physical custody of the minor who lives with the parents required to pay support under this section.
(3) The minor's parents to whom support is being paid pursuant to this section is* no longer providing any support for the child.
(E) The minor's parents to whom support is being paid under a child support order issued by a court or agency pursuant to this section shall notify, and the minor's parents who are paying support may notify the child support enforcement agency of the occurrence of any event described in division (D) of this section. A willful failure to notify the agency as required by this division is contempt of court with respect to a court child support order. Upon receiving notification pursuant to this division, the agency shall comply with sections 3119.90 to 3119.94 of the Revised Code.
HISTORY: 146 v H 167 (Eff 11-15-95); 147 v H 352 (Eff 1-1-98); 148 v S 180. Eff 3-22-2001.
 
K

KCMR

Guest
very very sad.


I agree with momma tiger. Just try and be supportive. I know it's not the way you dreamed your daughter would end up...but if she has your support you'll be undoubtedly surprised in how this unfortunate circumstance may turn around.

You basically have one of two options.
A) you can try to support your daughter and help her make the best of the situation.

or
B) you can fight this tooth and nail. End up losing your daughter. See without your help at 16, you are giving her no chance to ever make anything out of her life.


You can't make her have an abortion...and no you are not responsible for the child.

I decided to give a child up for adoption when I was 17. I made that decision because of my parents and their support. My second year in college I became pregnant and had another child. Because of the support of my parents I finished college and I am now an accountant, HAPPILY married, with two great kids.

You give up on her.... and she's got nothing.
 
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bugaboo

Member
Speaking from experience...all your daughter wants right now is your love, understanding, and support. I got pregnant with my first daughter at 16 (she is now 10 years old). My mother was VERY shocked, even asked if I wanted to abort the baby...When I told her no, that I will keep my child and care for my child...after the shock wore off, she became supportive. The father was 18...not once did my mom threaten to jail him...after all it did take 2. I moved out of my parents home at age 17 because my father was not very supportive...I had to deal with the silent treatment and him grounding me from seeing the baby's father...it was too much to bare..so I left. I made up with my parents and my mother was there for the birth of her first granddaughter. 1 year later I married the father and 6 months later was pregnant with our youngest daughter...Needless to say, the marriage didn't work, but my mother was ALWAYS there for me...even when she didn't agree with me.

Please, don't try to control the situation. Just be there for your daughter. She needs you right now.
 

bugaboo

Member
Speaking from experience...all your daughter wants right now is your love, understanding, and support. I got pregnant with my first daughter at 16 (she is now 10 years old). My mother was VERY shocked, even asked if I wanted to abort the baby...When I told her no, that I will keep my child and care for my child...after the shock wore off, she became supportive. The father was 18...not once did my mom threaten to jail him...after all it did take 2. I moved out of my parents home at age 17 because my father was not very supportive...I had to deal with the silent treatment and him grounding me from seeing the baby's father...it was too much to bare..so I left. I made up with my parents and my mother was there for the birth of her first granddaughter. 1 year later I married the father and 6 months later was pregnant with our youngest daughter...Needless to say, the marriage didn't work, but my mother was ALWAYS there for me...even when she didn't agree with me.

Please, don't try to control the situation. Just be there for your daughter. She needs you right now.

Oh and one more thing. you are not responsible for your grandchild...but, I did try to file for assistance when I moved out and the state said that they go by my parents income because I am a minor...so you are still responsible for your daughter...but my parents were never asked to pay back the state or be responsible for my daughter in any way.
 
M

mrjb

Guest
We're hoping to hear from the original poster in a few months, telling us about her beautiful grandchild and all the wonderful experiences of having a baby in the home, again.
In the meantime, we offer our understanding and support, parent to parent, during these trying times!

jb&ec
 

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