Question Regarding Bio Father

[victmich]

What is the name of your state? TX

The "Hoping For Answers" thread has really got me to thinking......

I have a son who is 10 years old. The man I was dating at the time left when I was 3 months pregnant. I have never seen him again. I never tried to contact him or anybody related to him and vice versa. He knew I was pregnant so I just decided at the time that is was his loss. When my son was born I left the father spot on his birth certificate blank. I have information for my son for when he is old enough to want to search for him. I have been realizing for the past couple of years that maybe I have been selfish and should try to find this man myself. One question I guess is how do I go about beginning a search like this? Also, would I need to have anything established at this point as far as custody? I wouldn't think that I would considering I am the only parent listed on his BC, but I was just wondering.

Any advice would be great!

 

[oberauerdorf]

IF you are going to start looking for this man, and personally I would advise you to do just that, after all, he has a right to either be a man or act like a punk, then you should get custody at least speak with an attorney regarding the issues that you may face if and when you find him.

At the very least, you should be ready for anything once you find him.

At the present moment, you don't need to do anything. He would have to establish paternity before making any claim on the child.

 

[victmich]

I totally understand what you mean by giving him a chance to be a stand up guy or not. I guess I've been realizing this for a while. But am I to understand what you are saying is that at this point custody is mine until paternity is established after we find him?

 

[oberauerdorf]

Without proof that he is the father, either in the form of acknowledgement of paternity, birth certificate or other device such as a DNA test, there IS no legal father.

Therefore, before he can exercise ANY rights to the child, including custody and/or visitation, he must establish that he IS the father.

So yes, at this point in time, the child has only one legal parent, YOU.

 

[victmich]

Got it oberauerdorf......thanks!!!

 

[oberauerdorf]

Obi-Wan for short

And you're welcome.

P.S. the kid is old enough