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Custody of Daughter???
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Custody of Daughter???

My daughter, who is 5, lives with me and her stepfather. Her biological father lives across the country, pays child support, but rarely sees her. My mother has been part of my daughter's life since she was born. Should something happen to me, it is obviously in the best interest of my daughter to be with either my husband, who is her "daddy", or my mother. Is there an easy way to make it so that she stays with one of them, or will her biological father have to sign over his parental responsibilities so that my husband can legally adopt her? Do courts look at situations like this and determine the child's best interest outside of biological parents?


    




Thanks for the Yahoo Jacket
The father would have to sign over his rights unless he was proven unfit.

Coach


Kaye G
Rating
The biological father would get her unless he signs her over to you and your husband.


Ducky S
No they don't --- the biological father WILL get her unless he signs over his rights. If he is willing to do so, then you need to have that done before something happens to you. Then after he signs them over, you can have custody listed as your current husband in your will.


Alex
All you would need the Biological father to do is sign a power of Attorney to give the "Dad" parental rights or your mother in case of something going wrong, but check with you states law in this regard... I live in North Carolina, I have a stepson who knows me only as dad, but he to had a biological father who pays child support every month, he singed the power of attorney so my son would stay with me in case of something happening to his biological mother.


oldnavybuddy1488
If you get the biological dad to give up his parental rights you also lose all child support. If thats cool why not ask him to do that. Did it ever enter your head that the reason he doesn't see her so much is that he lives far away.


sarcastro1976
Rating
I worried about this my whole childhood--I worried that I may have to go live with my "real" dad if something happened, and vowed to cry in court until I got my way (there's nothing wrong with my real dad, but I wanted to live with the guy who raised me).
Complicating matters, even though my real dad never saw me, he refused (apparently) to sign me over, but also did not make an effort to see me or help raise me.

Age 18 came and went, and my mom's still around, so it never became an issue.

Good luck--sorry I can't answer, but you're not alone.


dolce
Generally speaking, biological parents have first rights to their children over grandparents and step-parents. This is especially true because your daughter is so young, and has no control over whom she wants to live with. Discuss the legal options with your ex and a lawyer. Your ex would have to give up his parental rights.


SHERRI
Rating
Laws vary from state to state. I was told in the same situation that if I made a will stating who I wanted to raise my children that the courts would look into it, but there was no guarantee. You best bet would be to have her stepdad adopt her that way you are guaranteed that he has some legal rights. I personally think children need to know their biological parents no matter what. Keep in mind you exes blood runs through your daughters veins and someday will run through your grandchildrens veins. She did not pick her parentage you did.


Suga
If her father signs off his rights, he is no longer obligated to pay child support. But if he does it now, your husband can legally adopt her now and you wouldn't have anything to worry about if something happened to you. If you still want the support, you may want to make a will and discuss this with her biological father. After all, he is paying support and has the right to know what is going on.


nancy o
usally the cort will ask her where she wants to go and they take it from there onless she is to young and you go see a lawer and have it writen


zebj25
Best bet. Living will. Parents in this type of situation really need to settle this BEFORE the person(s) pass away. The courts turn ugly and take forever, and tend to have no real coercion between. Some say the Biological parent, some say the step-parent, and others will say the grand parent. Like I said, you should make the arrangements before you have to let some judge that isnt familiar with your family make it for you.


nana4dakids
Rating
The biological father will get her unless something is done before anything happened to you. I would ask him to sign over papers to your mother. My daughter and her ex did that. My 8 year old grandson lives with his mother and his step dad. An agreement was reached years ago that my grandson was signed over to me and my husband. So if anything ever happened to my daughter, we would get the grandson and my present son in law has agreed to stay in the state so he can keep all the children together. The ex and his wife will still get the 8 year old every Tuesday for dinner and every other weekend.


Patricia S
yes, he would have to sign over his rights if your husband wanted to adopt her and if something happens to you in the mean time, I am pretty sure she would have to live with the biological father unless he did not want her. A judge would feel that was in her best interests I am sure


John F
The easy way to do it is to have the biological father sign over his parental rights and responsibilities. Keep in mind that this will mean that he will not have to pay child support.
Of course, there is always the chance that he says no, and if he does, it will be his right to take the child with him should anything happen to you. You cannot overtly say, for instance, that if you die the child will automatically go to them, absent his consent.


BILLIELYNN H
Depends on what the family situation is at the time, you should have a will now. You can make these decisons now, like your husband adopting her now, and still letting her visit her dad. Or you could have step dad with legal guardinship, states have their rules, depends on what is happening at the time, but you can make your will now.


elysialaw
Rating
The biological father would have to sign over his parental rights to have your new husband be able to adopt her.

It sounds terrible to even point it out, but at that point, you would have to give up the child support he is currently paying you.


Justsyd
Her father will need to sign in order for her to be adopted. If something happens to you the father will get custody unless he is proved to be an unfit parent.


Everyman
Rating
You need a lawyer to write up a declaration of your wishes, similar to a will.


goldsteinandclegglaw
The general rule is that a court will always use the best interest of the child standard. With that said, a biological parent has a strong claim over that of a non-biological patent. If your husband has legally adopted her that would be helpful. In addition, your daughter has no probate rights in your husband's estate if no will exists unless she has been legally adopted. It would be a good idea to check with a family attorney in your jurisdiction, as family law is governed by states and not federal law.


Party Girl
depends where your at, but here in calforina the biological parents would get her no matter


Silver Surfer
Well, I am not an expert and I probably don't live near you, but where I am from (BC,Canada) if the custodial parent where to perish, the child in question would go and live with the biological father UNLESS, he were to sign away all parental rights. I do believe that once this is completed, you need to speak to a lawyer on this but I think now all you would need to do is write up a will. And included in it you should stipulate where you would like the child to reside. Like I said, I am not a professional when it comes to this sort of thing, but I want you to at least have an idea. Good luck with your endeavours! Merry Christmas


Ricou
do u have again the euros from France, I send you ?
lol





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