Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

Help..Father with drug history is seeking custody

I have a 3 week old daughter. The alleged father and I were never married and he is seeking full custody, limited visitation for me, and filed false allegations about me on the custody papers. He has had a history of drug use for the past 19 years and is claiming I am the one with the drug and alcohol addiction. He rented a house in his name for myself and other 3 children to live in and when I was 9 months pregnant,didnt pay for his half of the rent and was evicted, forcing me to find another place to live. He moved out when I was6 months pregnant and stated he wanted nothing to do with me or the child until after the birth.I let him in the delivery room when my daugher was born. He paid for $400 of the $1600 OB doctor while I was pregnant and has not contributed to anything for the child since her birth. I made arrangements for him to see the baby 6 times the first 2 weeks of her life and have not let him see her anymore since the day he served me with the custody/visitation/child support papers. He has sent me emails telling me that he was going to take her away from me and has also filed 4 false allegations with Department of Children and Families. Please advise if I can lose my child over these false claims and what I can do.


Asked on 11/05/05, 5:16 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Susan Pniewski Law Offices of Susan Pniewski PA

Re: Help..Father with drug history is seeking custody

Filing false reports with childern and Families is a crime. Be sure to follow up with the case worker asigend and when the reports show no problems, be sure to ask them to to prosecute.

You should additionally get an attorney to protect yourself against his allegations. If you can not afford one, contact your local legal aid office. Often if you have limited income and the father has decent income or makes many false allegations, the courts will award you attorney's fees. If you can borrow the funds it will be important for you to be represented. DOn't let him and his attorney bully you in court.

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Answered on 11/08/05, 8:31 am


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