Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

Child Custody & Child Support

Situation: Mother and child reside in FL. Father used to live in FL as well, but decided to move to NC. He has been gone for about a month. Parents never married and have been seperated for over 5yrs. Child is 6 yrs old now,but will be 7 soon. There is no child support order or any child custody order. Court proceddings were never done for anything. Does the father still have all the same rights even though he moved away by choice. Also, what can the mother do to keep the child in FL, but still have the child spend time with the father? Mother is currently worried to allow child to go to NC in fear the father will not return him, since apprarently this can be done with no reprecussions to the father. Child has resided in FL for over 5 yrs and is currently enrolled in school as well in FL. Father does pay anything and has never paid child support. When filing for custody cant the mother request that the child get to go to NC for most of the summer and some major holidays where time is granted off from school, so the child can see the father as much as possible? Very confused, please advise.


Asked on 9/29/08, 3:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gordon Fenderson Fenderson Law Firm

Re: Child Custody & Child Support

Of course the father has the same rights. And if there is no court order there is no repercussion for the father not returning the child. And if you file for a custody order, it would be the father that would be requesting the visitation. You probably want to do it before the child goes to NC though so the father does not file there.

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Answered on 9/29/08, 3:46 pm


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