Need help please - not sure if I have a leg to stand on

[drootes]

I have been raising my non-biological daughter since she was 6 months old, (10 yrs now).  Her mother and I never married and we broke up about 9 mths ago, now she wants to move out of state because she has a new boyfriend.  Do I have any way to stop this?  I realize I'm not her bio father but I've been there, I've paid child support voluntarily every month, I've always had my daughter on weekends and she even has a room in my house.  She has always called me Dad because I'm the only father she's ever had.

I just don't want her moving so far away that I can't come to my daughter's school nights, or take care of her when she's sick.  I don't want to only be a once a month father.

[msme]

The big question will be, where is the biological father & what role, if any does he play? My son was declared by the court to be the "Presumed father". He was not married to her mother when she was born but did give her his name & eventually married her mother.

He has very little info on the bio father but would like to know more. He currently has sole custody of her & the 2 boys who were born after they married.

Remember, the laws vary from state to state. You should get a Lawyer who is a Board Certified Family Law & Custody Specialist, who specializes in Father's rights.

Good luck & God bless.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

[drootes]

Thanks!  The bio father hasn't seen her since she was 6 mths old and has never had any contact with her.  Her mother has his name and last known contact info but none of us want him around, he was very bad news.

[msme]

That may cause you problems. You really need a lawyer. Right now, get busy gathering any & all documentation that you can get to prove that you have been her "Dad" for all these years. Get medical records & see if the doctor will note in the file if you have been the one who brought her in.

Also, get school records & see if any teachers or counselors are willing to testify about your involvement in her education. Hope you went to PTA meetings & stuff like that.

Get ahold of long term friends & relatives to line them up on your side. Also, scout leaders, coaches, anybody who can say that you are & have been a good dad. It seems to me that you have a very steep uphill battle to fight.

Good luck & God bless.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression!