Not if the mother still have custody. He better have a good explanation to tell the judge why he has not seen his child for a year. If he has a good reason they would probably start with visitation. Full custody he can not get unless the mother is unfit.
If the father has legal custody and the child is a minor - yes.
Why is the child in state custody?
Mother has sole custody. I'm in KCMO. see link
In Missouri, teen fathers have the same legal rights and responsibilities as adult fathers, including the right to seek custody or visitation with their child. It is important for teen fathers to be involved in their child's life and to establish paternity if it has not already been done. Teen fathers may also be responsible for child support.
If you were never married to the father of the child(Children) custody HAS NOT been established. You must go to court and have custody determined. My child lived with me for 5 Years. The father paid support to the state of Missouri Which I entern received, and he visited on occasion. One weekend he picked her up for a visit and disappeared. No one would help because custody was never established. He had just as much right as I.
Father must petition for custody and court will weigh what situation is best for the child
Only in cases of illegitimate births. Well, the mother can take the child but she can't stop the child from seeing the father. the child deserves to see the father in their life. The father can also take the child back and the parents can share time with the child. Or the child can make his/her own decision to live with the mother or father.
How often is the father awarded custody of the child over the mother in North Carolina?
That's up to the interpretation of the judge. see link
A child does not need to be abandoned by their mother for a father to be awarded full custody. If the father can demonstrate before a judge that the mother is unfit to parent, the judge can award him full custody of the child.
The mother. If she dies, her parents get custody.
sounds like kdnap to me. does the father have custody?