Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Here is our situation honestly and briefly: My husband has a 5yr old son born when he was 19yrs from a one night stand. Paternity was proved when his son was 6months old and he has faithfully paid CS ever since. He and his ex have never liked each other much. She was 16 when my stepson was born. She has always viewed him as HER child only. After she got her child support order she started moving around. My husband lost contact with her as a result of this. They were never married and she didn't put his name on the birth certificate so even though he had a CS order he had to go to court to establish legitimization and visitation. He was unable to do this until he could locate her to serve her papers. She has never held a job so this wasn't easy. He finally found her by a fluke a year and a half ago and started visiting at her convenience for about 6 months until she disappeared again. We simply went to pick him up and the house was empty. My husband hired a PI and located her again about 4 months later and finally got joint custody, legal paternity and visitation established in December. My step son loves my husband and they have become close in the time they have. His mother is living with a man 12 years older than her (not married) and has had 2 more children. Collectively together they have 5. He operates a forklift. They move constantly (about every 6 months). She is a dropout and she has never had a job. No one in her entire family has graduated high school. She draws welfare and medicaid and has for the last 6yrs. My husband and I are more than financially stable and are business owners. I am finishing my Master's degree and am going to be a teacher. We would like to get custody and have been keeping a journal recording all visitations, etc. Any advice or anything else we should be doing?

My significant other and I have been living together for 10 years. We have a house but it is in her name. However, I have been paying the mortgage for years. We are about to break up and I want custody of my son. Can I ask for the court to distribute the property as well? Thanks in advance.

In January of this year I became a father. My son's mother and I are not married. I took a DNA paternity test immediately after the my son was born to determine with certainty that I was the father before signing the birth certificate or the paternity statement. After the mother decided on a name for our son she didn't allow me to sign the birth certificate or the paternity statement. She did this for no apparent reason but only to secure her rights and limit the rights of child to have his father in his life. I eventually took her to court to establish paternity, order his birth records changed, set up daily visitation for 2 hours and order we go to mediation. While in court I asked that my surname be incorporated into the child's last name. I don't want my son to have issues later on, i.e. that I denied him my last name, I am embarrased of him or that I wasn't around. Heck I delivered the child due to the absence of the midwife. This request to have my surname incorporated into his last name was denied, the judge said she did not have the power to do this. Is what she said true or is there case law that indicates otherwise? I feel very discriminated against because the DNA test had no bearing on his birth records until it was changed by court order. In addition to other things, i.e. custody, the child is being denied the right to have my last name. I initiated child support, visitation, etc. but that is not possible?

I am a 17-year old mother and my newborn was born out of wedlock in Kentucky. Her father and I are not living together and I have given her his last name. I do not want him to pay child support because we both will have custody of the child and he will help support her. Is there any legal way that he can get out of paying child support? If so, will I still be able to have a medical card for her and keep our WIC?

Hi, How is child support determined if the father has a job such as a roofer that works seasonally? Is it based on his past tax records? Or his current hourly? Can a unwed father get joint physical custody in Illinois if his child has reached age 12 but he has always been involved in the child's life and the mother has never taken him to court for child support (no court orders exist)? Thanks for your time and information.