Legal Question in Family Law in Kentucky
I am the father of an 8 week old baby girl. I was never married to the mother of the child. I have signed an acknowledgement of paternity. I am being denied the right to allow my daughter to stay the night with me or take her with me to visit my family. What right do I have? Is she able to deny my right for wanting to spend time with our daughter?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Unless there is a court order stating otherwise, you have as much right as the father as she does as the mother, but the reality is until you get a custody order in place, she could just not let you see the child at all, and you'd have no recourse until you went to court. If you've established paternity, you have the same standing as the mother, mothers don't get special treatment under the law. So, go get an attorney and file a petition for custody and visitation. If you want to be a father to the child, now's the time to step up and ask for joint custody and a fair timesharing schedule. Otherwise, you'll be that guy the kid only sees once in a blue moon.