Legal Question in Family Law in California

You want to slow down and take some deep breaths here before you do something that you regret. My first recommendation is that you consult with a family law attorney as soon as possible. You want to have a game plan that both of you are willing to follow once the baby is born. What will be important to the Court is that you are acting responsibility and with integrity in a very challenging situation. This means that you are providing support for your girlfriend, have a game plan for providing support to both her and the baby including medical support. Given that this is going to be a newborn, insisting on straight 50/50 custody would be a bit much. On the other hand you want to make certain your name is on the birth certificate and that you request joint legal and physical custody as well as reasonable and age appropriate visitation, especially time for you to meaningfully bond with the baby. For this, you may want to consult with a counselor who specializes in fathering concerns. Good luck with this.