Legal Question in Family Law in California

I found out about two months ago that my 17 year old daughter is pregnant and due to have her baby around her 18th birthday. She and the baby's father don't know each other very well and are in and out of arguments about their future. He is turning 19 soon and still very immature, using gifts he gives her as a way to control her actions. In one of their arguments he threatened to get a lawyer and get custody of the baby 6 months out of the year. My husband and I plan on continuing to support our daughter (who will live in our house with the baby), and to provide medical, housing and whatever else the baby and our daughter needs. What rights do we have as the parents of a pregnant minor when it comes to ensuring custody of the baby to our daughter? The father of the child was aware of our daughter's age when she got pregnant and although he says he wants to be a part of the baby's life, he goes back and forth on whether or not he wants to be a part of our daughter's life. We are concerned with his threats and want to make sure the child is in a stable, loving environment.


Asked on 5/27/11, 6:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

File statutory rape charges. Once your daughter turns 18 you will have no legal control over anything. You also do not need to be concerned about him getting custody for six months out of the year. The kid is an idiot. No court would order that. Even if he overcomes the statutory rape issue AND convinces a court he will be a good and responsible father, AND that 50/50 custody is in the child's best interest, it would be frequent exchanges of a couple of days at a time. Young children need frequent contact with each parent. Every family court judge knows this. Bottom line, though, you should file the charges and then retain an attorney for your daughter.

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Answered on 5/27/11, 10:51 pm


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