If you're not there for the first 6 months of a childs life do you automatically lose all rights to the child?

Question

This guy I've been talking to says thats what happened with his daughter, but my ex wasnt there for the first year of his daughters life, and still had his rights to his child. So I'm wondering..

Answer 1

No.  Unless the mom went to court to get sole custody and maybe he never showed up to contest, so she won by default?  I dunno...seems like a fishy story to me.

Answer 2

The simple answer is no, that's not true.  There's a much more detailed answer I could give, but without knowing details or what exactly you want to know, I'll leave it at that.

Answer 3

Absolutely not.  This guy is fooling himself.  He just doesn't want to make the effort to see his kid.  If he went to a judge though he'd have to explain where he was.  But he doesn't loose his rights or responsibilities.  He may not be sending Child support and is using that as an excuse.  

Stay away from that guy.

Answer 4

no that isn't true. i took care of my ex's 3 children, when their mother dropped them off and never picked them back up. he couldn't get sole custody until she couldn't be reached for a year.the attorney used all known addressed, put a notice in the paper etc. then it was considered abandonment, after 365 days. but the other party (person who has the child) has to go for the abandonment rights. you don't just automatiacally lose rights. this guys ex must have gone to court, or not put him on the certificate, or said she didn't know who's it was etc. there are alot of reasons he might not have rights-but not being there for 6 months isn't one of them.

Answer 5

No....That's a load of c**p.