Legal Question in Family Law in Ohio

visitation and child abandonment issues

My husband and I are seeking visitation with his 5 yr old daughter who until last year '00 he didn't have any contact with per the mother's own doing. She finally decided to mutually agree to let him see her when she felt like it.On the agreement that we would not tell her he is her father. He had been behind on payments but caught the majority of it up $3,100 all at once. After she got that we saw her once. What chance does he have to get unsupervised visits and how will the issue of he being her father have to be addressed? Also, the step father has offered to adopt her but I don't think he could because he has been in prison for selling and doing drugs. His last court was in July '00. What are the laws on step parent adoption in Ohio? Many more things factor into this but they are too in depth to discuss right at this moment. Thanks


Asked on 1/28/01, 2:05 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gregg Manes Gregg A. Manes, Esq.

Re: visitation and child abandonment issues

Your question poses quite a few scenarios. First of all, you need to file a motion with the Court to obtain a schedule for visitation. It is highly unlikely the the Court will permit unsupervised visits immediately, but will in all actuality wean you into unsupervised visits.

Secondly, the step father will have a diffficult time adopting the child on two counts. First of all the criminal record will pose a road block and second the fact that you are in the child's life will mean that you have to consent to the adoption.

Good luck!!!

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Answered on 3/12/01, 8:33 pm


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