How will legal custody work and is a lawyer neccessary?

Question

i have a friend who is pregnant. We always said if she ever got pregnant, she would give the baby to me. Well, here we are. She's all for it, but the father wants them to raise it or get an abortion. She says his say doesn't matter (he just got out of jail). I guess my question is, since my friend and I both agree on me having legal custody, can we just go to the court house or will we need a lawyer? Also, can this be done BEFORE the baby is born? All feedback is appreciated. :-)

Answer 1

unless the father is deemed completely unstable and unfit, dangerous to the child, he will be able to get custody before you. If she signs adoption papers he has a certain amount of time to stop the process. If he does this, he gets custody, she pays child support. How old are you guys? sound too immature to be having children.

Answer 2

What you are speaking of is adoption, the father will need to sign away his rights to the child as well. From what it sounds like he will not be cooperative so I woul definitely get a lawyer, any case involving a child will take quite a bit of time in court (sometimes years). You may not start until the baby is born.

Good Luck

Answer 3

If you are talking about adopting the baby then you will need an attorney to file the proper paperwork and to represent you in court.

Answer 4

Your friend is wrong. He does have a say.  He is not in jail and is the father of the child.  This may come as a surprise to your friend, but a judge is more likely to give the baby to him than allow the adoption unless the father is a habitual FELON (big difference here).

Nothing can be done before the baby is born. You will need an attorney.