What can I do help my teenage son insure he has rights to his child?

My son (a senior in high school) and his girlfriend are going to have a baby, due in September. Her family, her dad is a Pastor, is telling him he will not have rights to the child and won't be able to spend time with it for 6 months to a year. We all know that is hogwash, but what can we do to solidfy my sons rights? Any ideas?What can I do help my teenage son insure he has rights to his child?
Contact a lawyer, you can bet the dear old pastor will want his daughter to have child support.What can I do help my teenage son insure he has rights to his child?
This is so easy...go to court.





There! You're welcome!
If she doesnt put his name on the birth certificate (she doesnt have too) then he will need to file for a paternity test in family court. He(you) will have to pay for the test, it is a few hundred usually.


Once he has been established as the father (or if she does put his name on the birth certificate) he can file for custody/visitation in family court.





Used to work in child welfare.
Contact your lawyer. Get started now on visitation rights. Be prepared that your son will need to pay child support. Also make sure that your son will indeed be good to the child...if he truly wants to be a part of the childs life that is great but he needs to always always be there...not just because its neat or when its convenient. Take them to court and get it in writing how the custody will fall.
You must go to the family court and formally apply for custody or joint-custody. She may or have given her parents custody, but that does not affect his rights. It should definalty be on the record though.





I'm glad to hear that you are helping him do the right thin. I think more fathers would assert their rights if it wasn't so hard or if they new how. Good Luck, the child deserves to spend time with both parents.
If he's on the birth certificate - he will have rights. If they don't put him on the birth certificate, he can force a DNA test to establish paternity - and once that's done he will be entitled to have rights - regardless of what the parents say. If it has to go all the way to family court - they will rule that he has ';X'; days with the baby, and establish what his rights are. Then the family will be forced to comply under penalty of law.





That's really sad....and I'm sorry your family has to go through this. You would think that a pastor of all people would understand the importance of family and the important role that a father has in a child's life....good luck!
Talk with your family lawyer or a lawyer anyway - your son will need to pay child support and can get that set up before the child is born then he has rights to the baby. If she says that she is breast feeding the baby the court may make him wait or only have visitation when the mother is there.
Go to court.. fight for your rights
Take it to court and get a custody agreement drawn up. If he is going to be helping to support the child, he should get time with the child. If he can work something out with his girlfriend, without the courts being involved, that would be better. Something in writing though, so it's legal.
Get a lawyer because every father needs to see their baby no matter what. I believe her father is pissed off that his daughter is pregnant and young! GET A LAWYER..
You can file family court papers now (before the baby is born). This will ensure that the mother (his girlfriend) doesn't leave the area, and that a paternity test is done when the child is born. If the child is his, he will be placed on the birth certificate and the court (or mediator) will decide on a ';parenting schedule'; . Your son may not be able to have over nights with the newborn right away, especially if the mother opts to nurse, but he will definitely have the opportunity for visitations to establish a bond with the child which would later lead to overnights. He will automatically be given joint legal custody and with time joint physical.
have him insist on a paternity test then sign the paternity papers and have his name on the birth certificate. I would contact a lawyer so it will be settled before baby gets here. the laws about paternity vary from state to state, so getting a lawyer is your best bet. Also the paternity test, to me, is a given. You don't want him legally binded to a child that is not his.
It is really important that you get a lawyer right away so that he doesn't miss out on any time at the beginning of the child's life. The law protects him and he can help himself if he gets a job and shows some responsibility.





Good luck.
get your self an attorney, and make sure he is on the birth certificate. also, you can go to child support, he might have to pay, but he will have a legal right to his child and they will enforce visitations.


good luck!
if she is breastfeeding it may only be possible for him to spend time with the baby with her there as 1st coz the baby will really need her, then progress onto him taking the baby for short visits.


As a breastfeeding mother ive read about some court cases %26amp; the minimum visits ive heard about for a responsible father was 1hr at a time until 12months then 5hrs after 12months. Don't expect overnights until at *least* 2years.


Read up on attachment as well as his rights, you really need to do whats best for the baby.
First, like others, I recommend going to a lawyer. Second, even though he feels sure it is his, have a paternity test done. It looks good in court and shows them that he is the actual father. Third, make sure he actually wants to be involved and feels he can handle the responsibilty........maybe that one should be first since you don't want to hand out all that money if he doesn't. Fourth, if he truly wants this child, he's going to have to show the courts he's responsible enough. And he's going to need your support. It would look really good in court if he started giving her money now, and keeping track of what he gives her to go toward the expenses of doctors visits and pregnancy clothes, and baby items. He should also start preparing and getting baby items himself for his house. I know this sounds like alot, but it's truly worth it if he does want to have visitation with this child.


Fifth, he should try to keep in contact with her, and only ask questions about the child, and keep a journal about it all. I hope this helps. Good luck.
Some states have what is called a putative father registry. He should add his name to it so that his interest in the pregnancy is established. Contact the state department of health.