Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania

Unwed Father Options

My son has recently become the father, or assumed to be the father of a baby girl. No court or legal actions have been taken or started. We do want to get paternity testing done so that we are assured it is his child. Right now he has been visiting the child in the home of the x-girlfriends parents. He feels very uncomfortable with this situation. She finally had told him that he could have his daughter for an overnight stay in our home, in which he resides. Now she has said that she has spoken with a lawyer and he said that my son must take a course before he can spend time with his daughter. Is there any law that states he must take a course, and if he must, does she also have to take this course? Just what are his rights to spend time with his child? What should we be doing to get him the rights he deserves? He will accept any responsibility if this is his child and wants to provide for her. Please advise


Asked on 3/10/99, 8:45 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Ted Hoppe Shields & Hoppe, LLP

Re: Unwed Father Options

There are many counties which require parents in custody cases to take what are essentially parenting classes. This would apply to both parents. The specific requirements would depend on the County you are located in. To enforce your son's shared custody rights, he may have to go to court if they cannot reach an agreement out of COurt. However, there would not appear to be any reason why he should not be able to have unsupervised visitation with his child. I would be happy to discuss this with you further if you would like to contact me.

Ted Hoppe

Law Offices of L. Theodore Hoppe, Jr.

206 W. State Street


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Answered on 3/25/99, 7:13 am


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