Generally, if the parents are unmarried the mother has sole custody and control in most states until the father can establish his paternity. Remember, a child's mother can always be identified by medical records. Since the father didn't give birth and he was not legally married at the time of the birth he must establish his paternity by signing the birth certificate at the time of birth (waiving DNA testing rights) which must be done with mother's consent. If he doesn't sign the birth certificate then he must seek another way to establish his paternity and that is done through a DNA test. A paternity test can be arranged through the court and once established the father can request visitations, custody and set up a schedule of regular child support payments for the child.
Yes, the father have to go to court to get visitation or custody.
If she is unwed, yes.
Sole Custody until ruled on otherwise by the court.
By virtue of being "unwed" the mother will have sole custody. Father will have file some type of paternity action.
Mother has sole custody and control at the time of the birth under all known circumstances. see links below
Mother has assumed sole custody and control under all circumstances in every state except Arizona. see links below
YES, a woman can file for child support and not address custody in the courts, but a man can not request visitation time without the subject of child support being addressed. All single mother have sole custody by default, in 49 states.
That answer depends on several factors including the mother's age, ability to provide for the child and the environment where the child will be living. If a father is named on the birth certificate or parentage established after the fact in a court of law, the father has as many rights as the mother in terms of custody and support. Under Connecticut law, an unwed mother with no father legally designated is presumed to have sole custody unless proven otherwise or amended by other conditions as outlined above.
Of course not. In the United States an unwed mother has sole custody of her child until the father has established his paternity legally, in court. Then he must petition for custody and/or visitation rights. He cannot make any changes in the custody of the child via a power of attorney. The unwed mother should exercise her parental rights aggressively and not allow grandparents or the father to take control of her "rights".
In all states they have sole custody, but in Arkansas, it has the clearest expression of this. see link below
Under all circumstances, unwed mothers have sole custody and control by default in every state until ruled on otherwise by the court. see link
Single mothers have sole custody, however I teach fathers how to stop such moves.