Custody

A person cannot force a parent to relinquish his or her rights to their minor children, only a court can permanently terminate parental rights. A biological parent can file a petition for the Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights in state court in the city or county where they live. The judge decides if the petition should be granted based upon what is best for the child or children that are involved. Another option to consider, go to the State Welfare office and ask to have his alimony and/or child support paid directly to them and have THEM issue the check. Men tend to be a little more punctual when they know the State is looking over their shoulder.

The type of incidents mentioned on the discussion page (false reports to child protective services, failure to keep promises, non-payment of child support, not adhering to visitation schedules, badmouthing the mother) are seldom helpful in a custody dispute if they are only presented as allegations. The better option would be to document all events that could be deemed harmful to the child in question. It can be extremely helpful if one can enlist the aid of teachers, counselors, ministers, and so forth, any honest and reputable person who has the child's best interest at heart and would be willing to give unbiased testimony. "Mud-slinging" is NOT the way to convince a judge who is the best parent, nor is submitting false or misleading statements as to someone's character. Family court judges are very good at ferreting out the truth from all parties;those persons who try to make themselves look good while making someone else appear "bad" will not be looked upon favorably by the court.

children of opposite sex after age of 7 must be in separate bedrooms or children in youth if they found out will be in your lives for a long time.

I believe it is 16.

I am not sure though.

my parents got divorced because my dad was caught drunk driving.
but now im all the way in IDaho with my mom.

so i'd like more info on this as well.

??

so i believe the age is 16 , but you obviously would have to go to court.

there is probably laws and regulations to this tha I would REALLY like to know more about.

Texas Family Code Section 152.102 describes "abandoned" as meaning left without provisions for reasonable and necessary care or supervision. Texas Family Code, Chapter 161, etc. A parent has a) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the parent without expressing an intent to return, without providing for the adequate support of the child and remained awayh for a period of at least three months b) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the parent without expresssing an intent to return, without providing for the adequate support of the child, and remained away for a period of at least three months c) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possessino of another without providing adequate support of the child and remained away for a period of ast least six minths f) failed to suppor the child in accordance with the parent's ability during a period of one year ending within 6 months of the filing of a petition g) abonding the child without identifying the child or furnishing means of identification and the child's identity cannot be ascertained h) there is more in the Family Code Section (Texas) Chapter 161 regarding terminatin of the parent-child relationship, termination of rights of parent discussing other abandonment issues. You can read it online unswer state.tx.us/statutes... if you want to know more about rights. I am in the process of studying them for personal reasons but I have been a legal person (non-attorney) since 1977 and have done a lot of research on cases, etc. There are a lot of references for abandonment, guardianship, adoption, rights and duties of parents, etc.

If your children are no longer minors then you don't have to pay child support. However, if a written document was set-up previously that you also pay support for a college education then you have to fulfill this obligation. If you ex-wife left you in her Will (doubtful) she should have stipulations as to what the children will receive from the Estate and this too is an obligation and carried out by an Executor (male), Executrix (female.) The back child support is owed to the estate of the ex wife. She funded the children without that support, robbing them ofmoney that should have been in the estate. If I were the attorney representing her estate or the beneficiaries of that estate, I'd be knocking on your door with a court order!

Generally yes. If the custodial parent moves away from the non-custodial parent, the custodial parent is ordered to make up the extra travel costs the non-custodial parent must now pay.

The principle gives freedom to move, but discourages long-distance moves. In particular it discourages moves that are designed to deny access to the non-custodial parent.

Yes, in some cases and it's up to the courts. For instance: If the mother of the child was pregnant and didn't tell you and you just found out and want to get to know your child and support that child, then the courts will probably move in your favor. However, if you just didn't feel you had any responsibility towards your child and moved on with your life the courts won't look too kindly on you and you WILL have to pay child support as you should. Marcy

Yes. * Maybe. The relative would have to request an investigation from the department of children and family services in the state where the child resides. If the investigation warrants the child being removed from the family home the relative can then petition the court for guardianship rights.

You can but I don't believe it will get you anywhere. It would be nice if plans were told to you for this outing. I have taken my daughter out of state for the day going to KC Worlds of Fun. My ex was none too pleased when she was told about this and that I should have mentioned my plans to her as she ultimately is responsible for my daughter as the custodial parent. If the Non-Custodial parent takes the child out of state without bringing the child back this is kidnapping and by all means press charges. To have a crime commited one must break the law, if a divorce decree states that the non-custodial parent can not take the child across state lines then they are at fault. Besides this there is no fault as long as the non-custodial follows the visitation schedule as in the decree. If you have no decree certain papers should be drawn up dictating the allowances of the visitation and the non-custodial parent will have to answer this petition. You have to protect yourself get a lawyer and get it in front of a Judge that's the only way you will have any legal standing when it comes to this matter. Do not use words in the decree such as reasonable as this gives to much leeway.(Such as reasonable time). This word in the decree will open up too much discussion, trust me I know.

Yes they can. Depending on what state you are in, the legal age has changed from 18 to 17. 17 year olds are considered an adult in Georgia. Not sure of any other state, then they can do what they want. Not in the sense that the police can come and take the minor into custody and return them to the custodial parent. Before action can be taken the custodial parent will either need to file a report with the police that the child is a victim of parental abduction (it is not relevant if the child went willingly). Or the custodial parent will have to file a petition with the court to have the child returned to their custody, in which case the other parent will likely be charged with a contempt of a court order. In regards to Georgia amending the age of majority law to seventeen, that is not quite correct. Georgia has taken the same action that several states have, in that they have amended the juvenile code to designate a seventeen years old as an "adult". This gives the court the power to have said "adult" adjudicated on the same level for most criminal infractions. It also gives the court the power to grant early emancipation rights to those individuals who meet the specified criteria. Therefore, the actual legal age of majority still remains at eighteen (18).

That will be a matter for the court to decide. There are serious issues that need to be addressed, the least of which is the validity of child support payments. However, the parent who is under an child support order must continue to pay until the court modifies or dismisses the order. The legal avenue is, for the father of the fifteen year old to file a petition to have the support order amended. The facts of the situation will be brought to the attention of the court and there could be some serious consequences relating to the circumstances.

In Missouri an unwed mother has all the rights to the child until paternity is established. However, she also has all the responsibility. That means that she cannot ask for child support either, until paternity is established. She can deny visitation, but she can't get support. Once the father establishes paternity he can asks for the same rights and responsibilities as a married parent. If mom won't help dad establish paternity, he can go to the child support agency and ask them to help him establish paternity.

If you live in the US (and without knowing the state) generally speaking, adoptive or biological is irrelevant. If there's a will and the child is not named, the child gets nothing, unless they can successfully contest the legality of the will (which takes a strong case).

That is a huge catagory. A couple concepts are that both parents are generally expected to work full time, if able and unless this conflicts with child care, and provide financially for children. Waiving of child support is very difficult, because it is the right of the child. Generally there is a Income Deduction Order. Generally, if the paying parent has more than 40% of overnights, the child support is drastically effected.

Can you choose to move with a friend at 16 in Michigan?

I believe the laws are in every state that you can leave home at 17.only if you are pregnant,or already have a child.some states consider you as an adult at that time.but check the laws in your state to be exact.I'm pretty sure I'm right.

Unless you have a divorce agreement which specifically states that you cannot move to a different location without the consent of the other parent, then yes, you are free to move.

Once a person adopts a child, they are now the 'parent' or owner of the child. The biological parents would no longer be financially responsible. though both of the biological parents would have to sign the proper adoption documents for this to happen.

• If there is joint custody of the child then the father should be told by the mother where she is going with the child and for how long. If the mother wants to live in another State the courts will have to decide visitation rights. Example: The father has may have the child one or two weeks during the summer; possibly Christmas or alternative Christmas', etc. If the father does not have joint custody then the mother can leave with the child to another State without his permission, but to be fair to the child the father should be informed unless the father has a criminal record; drugs, etc., and is an unfit father.

take her court and get visitation rights.

if there is already an order for visitaion make sure you mark it on a calander time and .then take her for contempt and she can loose custody for withholding...otherwise w/ no visitation schedule not alot at this time...unless you were awarded vistiation w/ no specfic times ect then you can still hold her in contempt