Questions regarding OH/MI custody/child support

[Shr00m]

OP, march into your county court (guessing you would be in Sandusky or thereabouts) and file for a paternity test (if you didn't sign the AOP at birth), custody, and child support. Ask for the court to force mom to return the child to Ohio or at leats return the child to you. Why do you assume that mom gets to take the child out of state just because? If you wait six months and mom files in Michigan then MIchigan will have jurisidiction. If you file now then Ohio will have jurisdiction.
Moms do pay child support to dads in Ohio. Some couples pay no child support to each other in Ohio. Some dads get full custody or primary custody in Ohio -- even of infants. Especially if mom wants to cut and run.

I've been trying to get a hold of a attorney that was recommended to me, since I have so many questions. Unfortunatly I am having a hard time getting a hold of her. I am from Toledo and need a good lawyer. Could you recommend me any? I will send my e-mail address to you in a PM through this board.

Thanks.

 

[Ohiogal]

I've been trying to get a hold of a attorney that was recommended to me, since I have so many questions. Unfortunatly I am having a hard time getting a hold of her. I am from Toledo and need a good lawyer. Could you recommend me any? I will send my e-mail address to you in a PM through this board.

Thanks.

Here is what you do -- call the Toledo bar and ask for a referral of a domestic relations lawyer. Many bars have specific requirements of what it takes to be referred through them. Toledo should have their forms online as it is in a very large county and you will be able to find forms to establish paternity, request visitation/custody, and child support. You also want to force mom to bring the child to Ohio so that Ohio retains jurisdiction. DO NOT DELAY! I do not email people off of this site.
However check your PM for information on the other issue you mentioned.
She can try to use a lot of things HOWEVER unless they are proven to be a direct danger to the child then nothing will come of it.

 

[Shr00m]

Here is what you do -- call the Toledo bar and ask for a referral of a domestic relations lawyer. Many bars have specific requirements of what it takes to be referred through them. Toledo should have their forms online as it is in a very large county and you will be able to find forms to establish paternity, request visitation/custody, and child support. You also want to force mom to bring the child to Ohio so that Ohio retains jurisdiction. DO NOT DELAY! I do not email people off of this site.
However check your PM for information on the other issue you mentioned.
She can try to use a lot of things HOWEVER unless they are proven to be a direct danger to the child then nothing will come of it.

If the mother is taking the child to Michigan but agrees on 50% of visitation time spent with me and 50% spent with her, should I be in a rush to file anything? I really don't want to start this whole process during the holidays. They are already stressfull enough.

I know if this agreement doesn't work out and she deny's me my share of visitation I will be filing ASAP.

I just don't want this whole custody thing to happen during the holidays. My family and her family will be put under a lot more stress then needed.

 

[CJane]

If the mother is taking the child to Michigan but agrees on 50% of visitation time spent with me and 50% spent with her, should I be in a rush to file anything? I really don't want to start this whole process during the holidays. They are already stressfull enough.

I know if this agreement doesn't work out and she deny's me my share of visitation I will be filing ASAP.

I just don't want this whole custody thing to happen during the holidays. My family and her family will be put under a lot more stress then needed.

Without a court order, she doesn't have to allow you ANY time at all. So, technically, she wouldn't be denying you anything at all. And, the longer she lives in MI w/primary custody of the child, the closer she comes to establishing status quo... which makes it harder to make changes when you DO file for a permanent order.

Trust me on one thing. It's going to be stressful no matter what, and the courts rarely move fast enough to affect your holidays this year anyway.

 

[Ohiogal]

If the mother is taking the child to Michigan but agrees on 50% of visitation time spent with me and 50% spent with her, should I be in a rush to file anything? I really don't want to start this whole process during the holidays. They are already stressfull enough.

I know if this agreement doesn't work out and she deny's me my share of visitation I will be filing ASAP.

I just don't want this whole custody thing to happen during the holidays. My family and her family will be put under a lot more stress then needed.

Yes for a variety of reasons -- some of which Cjane has already said:
You don't have an agreement without the court approving it. You want Ohio to have jurisdiction so you want it filed in Ohio courts. You also want to legally be considered the father -- which I do not believe you are at this point (did you sign the AOP? I can't recall three pages ago). Unless you are LEGALLY the father then you are nothing but a legal stranger to this child. The longer you wait to establish that the more difficult it will be and more expensive (especially if mom establishes residency in Michigan and you need to hire a lawyer in MI and travel for court among other things).
Keep jurisdiction in Ohio by filing before mom can establish residency in MI.

 

[Shr00m]

Yes for a variety of reasons -- some of which Cjane has already said:
You don't have an agreement without the court approving it. You want Ohio to have jurisdiction so you want it filed in Ohio courts. You also want to legally be considered the father -- which I do not believe you are at this point (did you sign the AOP? I can't recall three pages ago). Unless you are LEGALLY the father then you are nothing but a legal stranger to this child. The longer you wait to establish that the more difficult it will be and more expensive (especially if mom establishes residency in Michigan and you need to hire a lawyer in MI and travel for court among other things).
Keep jurisdiction in Ohio by filing before mom can establish residency in MI.

The day my daughter was born was very busy. I know my name is on the birth certificate but I don't know if I signed an AOP or not. I know I want to talk to a lawer in person before I do anything, hopefully I can do that next week sometime. But in the meantime she can not do anything in Michigan for 6 months right?

Thank you again for all your help with this matter.

 

[CJane]

The day my daughter was born was very busy. I know my name is on the birth certificate but I don't know if I signed an AOP or not. I know I want to talk to a lawer in person before I do anything, hopefully I can do that next week sometime. But in the meantime she can not do anything in Michigan for 6 months right?

Thank you again for all your help with this matter.

She can't file anything in MI for 6 months, yes.

You CAN file most of this stuff pro-se. It's really not complicated unless/until it's contested... you can hire an attorney then, and file now.

 

[MrsK]

What does that have to do, philosophically, with the concept that ONLY the male parent is being made responsible for a pregnancy that was created JOINTLY?

Exactly. Esp because it was MOM'S fault that MOM was indigent, and MOM should have to pay back at least half.