Legal Question in Family Law in California
Visitation Rights
I just left my husband. We have 3 1/2 month year old daughter. I feel he is extremely emotionally unstable and don't want to allow him to see our daughter until we settle custody in court. I have yet to file for divorce yet, but i will be very soon. Do i have the right as her mother to not allow the father to see his child??
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Visitation Rights
You have a duty to protect your child. However, you should immediately file a petition to dissolve the marriage, and an OSC requesting no visitation pending a court order. To be successful in such a motion would require setting forth in detail the reasons on why he should not be allowed to have contact with child. This will of course be very upsetting to him, and may result in some hostility on his part. You should retain an attorney to represent you in this matter.
Re: Visitation Rights
If you are in Southern California you may call me for a free consultation. My website is www.divorce-legal.net
You need to get into Court right away!
Re: Visitation Rights
Without a court order his rights are just as great as yours. In California there are no Mother's rights and Father's rights, there are only parents rights. You should immediately get a court order or he can claim that you are interfering with his rights and you could lose custody for that very fact. Your opinion that he is unstable needs to be verified. Good Luck, Pat McCrary