Legal Question in Family Law in Ohio

Paternity rights for an unborn child
I am dating a man who is having a child with a woman who is using the unborn baby as a pawn. He wants to be very involved in the child's life, but she is threatening to keep the baby from him and/or try to get him to pay insane amounts of child support. He has been very supportive of her throughout the pregnancy, and is even currently living with her (very unhappily). Should he document instances she threatens to keep the baby from him? He is afraid that a court would rule in favor of a mother in a custody hearing if he were to try to obtain full custody of the baby. What kind of paternity rights does he have in this situation? Any suggestions or advise you could offer would be very greatly appreciated.

Asked on 5/10/07, 2:04 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Edward DiCato Edward DiCato Attorney at Law

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Re: Paternity rights for an unborn child

If this is an Ohio law question, the mother and father are on equeal ground when custody is to be determined. The Court will then look at which parent is more suitable. He should document any thing she says threatening to keep the child away from the father. That being said, Courts generally feel that the younger a child is, especially a newborn, is a factor in favor of placement with the mother. He should probably get this matter into Court fairly soon after the child is born. He could try for shared parenting or at least liberal visitation.

Answered on 5/10/07, 5:10 pm

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