Legal rights of unmarried woman in Georgia

To be brief, I've met a girl who was in a prior relationship, they were not married, just dating. She ended that relationship and subsequently found out she was pregnant, which is fine with me. She has decided that she wants to stay with me, and eventually move here to New Jersey, she now lives in Georgia. My question, Is there anything the former boyfriend can do to keep her in Georgia, or prevent her from going anywhere for that matter. Does he have any claims on the child, even though it was a mistaken pregnancy. If she doesn't want him involved in her life, can he force his way in.
We have spoken about it and are willing to let him
be involved in some way, but as far as legally, what can he do if anything to cause trouble. Thank you very much in advance.

[LegalBeagle]

Originally posted by colormebest
To be brief, I've met a girl who was in a prior relationship, they were not married, just dating. She ended that relationship and subsequently found out she was pregnant, which is fine with me. She has decided that she wants to stay with me, and eventually move here to New Jersey, she now lives in Georgia. My question, Is there anything the former boyfriend can do to keep her in Georgia, or prevent her from going anywhere for that matter. Does he have any claims on the child, even though it was a mistaken pregnancy. If she doesn't want him involved in her life, can he force his way in.
We have spoken about it and are willing to let him
be involved in some way, but as far as legally, what can he do if anything to cause trouble. Thank you very much in advance.

It is nice of you to be willing to let him be involved with HIS child. You obviously have no say in any of this. He has equal rights to the child and can petition the courts to force the mother to adhere to those rights. She does not have a choice in the matter and needs to repeat in her mind .. 'It is his child too, the child has a father who has equal rights'.

Not the answer you wanted, but.. oh well..

Oh well is right, you obviously didn't read the post correctly and are just one of these clowns who like to make judgements on people. The facts are, they are not married, never were, and the only reason he is even a memory still is because he impregnated her. and to state that she has no rights in this matter and that she has to live her life like he says, just shows how little you know about anything. So please, people come on here for advice,
not judgements about how they live thier lives, so do everyone on here a favor, and keep your "Lifestyle Opinions" to yourself.

[LegalBeagle]

Originally posted by colormebest
Oh well is right, you obviously didn't read the post correctly and are just one of these clowns who like to make judgements on people. The facts are, they are not married, never were, and the only reason he is even a memory still is because he impregnated her. and to state that she has no rights in this matter and that she has to live her life like he says, just shows how little you know about anything. So please, people come on here for advice,
not judgements about how they live thier lives, so do everyone on here a favor, and keep your "Lifestyle Opinions" to yourself.

The fact that they were not married, never were and the only reason he is a memory is because she had earth shattering sex with him is irrelevant. *They* had sex.. he did not *just* impregnate her.. they had sex.. they were probably naked and she was willing. Probably even enjoyed it. The fact that proper birth control was not use is relevant because now she is carrying THEIR child.

She has many rights.. but so does he. They both have equal rights since it is THEIR child. Not just hers alone. She does not have to live her life as he says so, but she does have to abide by the law which gives HIM certain rights to the child.

You whole post is basically implying that he should have zero rights, not be allowed anywhere near the child and you should be able to enter into a relationship with this woman with no intervention or problems from him.. WRONG!! Just goes to show how little you know.. about anything..

Like I said before, you didn't read everything. She and I are willing to let him see "THIER" child every month. I didn't say I didn't want him to be involved. I only asked that if he didn't like the arrangements, whether he could stop her from moving out of state. I'm not sure he can, and I will obviously go to a proffesional Lawyer to find out these things for sure. Just wanted an opinion from someone who might know the answer. (One that so far you have not answered by the way). We do not want to exclude him in any way from "THIER" child. So lets get the facts right first please. Thank you

Does the father know of the pregnany??

Yes, the father is aware of the pregancy, but the fact is that she doesn't want to spend her life with him, she has chosen not to.
Now he will either accept this and move on, or he will choose to
be nasty about it. We just have to find out what we can or cannot do. Like I said before, we don't want to shut him out of the child's life, just want to move on with ours.

Fortunately, he cannot keep her from moving out of the state, because of what i understand of the Roe v. Wade ruling, she has the only legal claim to her body and the unborn until the birth.

[LegalBeagle]

Originally posted by colormebest
Yes, the father is aware of the pregancy, but the fact is that she doesn't want to spend her life with him, she has chosen not to.
Now he will either accept this and move on, or he will choose to
be nasty about it. We just have to find out what we can or cannot do. Like I said before, we don't want to shut him out of the child's life, just want to move on with ours.

Define 'move on'? Do you define being nasty as in wanting rights to his child or something else?

I do not think you truly grasp the reality of this situation and the legal rights the father has. This man is going to be in the mothers life for the next 18 years whether she likes it or not. She is going to have to give up this child for visitation that could span whole summers. This man will also have the opportunity to petition for physical custody. ie, the mother could lose physical custody of this child.

He can have a major impact on the mother's life and anyone involved with her. He will have access to school and medical records. The mother will have to think about and seriously consider any and all decisions regarding this child. For one mistake and he can petition and be awarded custody.

Like it or not, this man (if he wants to) will be around for some time and be a major factor in the mother's life. Your 'moving on' will *have* to take him into consideration.

[LegalBeagle]

Originally posted by cindyn71
Fortunately, he cannot keep her from moving out of the state, because of what i understand of the Roe v. Wade ruling, she has the only legal claim to her body and the unborn until the birth.

You are correct in that she can more or less do as she please until the child is born. The fathers rights begin the moment of a live birth.

Well Thank you for these responses. By "Moving on" I mean he can accept the fact that this woman does not Love him and that she wants to spend her life elsewhere. As far as her losing physhical custody is concern, If I imagine the circunstances correctly, she will move in with me, we will get married, and she will be well taken care of, along with the child, for a long time.
I have an excellent Job, make more than enough money and neither her or the child will be in any kind of duress. I'm sure if the above all happen, no Judge in the country will take this child away from her, as "the best interest of the child" would definetly not be served. And as stated before, this doesn't mean he won't be able to see the child if he so desires.
Thanks again for your input.

hey legal, if the mother moves out of state and marries this man, which is her right to do at this time, after the baby is born and if the bio father wants to exercise his rights to this child, can she, the mother be made to move back to the state of Ga.? I would guess not sincse she was married and living in another state.

As to the poster, Legal is right. It may not be what you wanted to hear but it is right. The bio father will have every right to this child. He will also have to pay child support for the next 18/19 years.

You can however adopt the child and the bio father would have to agree and then he would have no rights to the child. You may want to consider that route.

Just remember that if he wants to be a part of the child's life you cannot stop it nor will you have any say so because you would be third party "step parent" and they have no rights what so ever to another persons child.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

[StarsMoon]

Well there.. You are all right. The bio-father has to go through the courts to get legal rights(visitations,ect) to this child. He must first be legitimated!!! Otherwise since female is unwed, she is considered to be the primary custodian of the child. If she is going to be to cared for by you(and wants for nothing) then there is no reason for her to legitimate the father. By means of taking this to court. She would not receive anything legally from that father.Even if this father signs the birth certif it still doesnt give him the legal rights of father. I know this cause my husband and I have gone through a version of this situation as well as what you have to look forward too. I would like the opinions of all of you on my problem. Will post on the next one. Thank-You

[StarsMoon]

My husband ,7 yrs ago met a woman in Ga. she was prego 2 months later. They were together till the child was 2. He left and told her he'd send her $100. a week for the child as well as keep ins.(med and dent). He had job that traveled often, and she moved home to mom's. Over the course of years, the grandmom is been raising child while mom is out living her life spending $400. on herself not the child. She would call my husband crying or upset and ask for money (50 here, 75 there,ect) and he would western union her money. I started asking questions about where money going to and then he asking her . She'd say doctor or dentist. I asked him to get the doc's name and number to see whats is wrong and she wouldn't give info. So the x-tra money stoped. We wanted the child for x-mas in 2000 and she told us that in the St of Ga. my husband had no legal rights to the child cause they were never married. Even though she had no prob in the past when we would be up there, she always before let us visit or keep the child over-nite. I talked my husband into going a lawyer. And we did. He told us that even though he signed the birth certif, he had no legal rights.Child has his last name too. We went to court(and I had no legal say either, which should be BS cause we r married and I have responsibility when that child is in my household) the mother had to agree that the child was his(why should she say he's not- she was getting $400 a month). He was then legitimated. Then he gets reasonable visitations and since we live in another state he gets to call the child 3 times a week. Plus, child support went up to $111.00 a week. Well, my prob is the child is living and going to school at the grandmom's while she lives unmarried with another man 30 miles up the road in another county. Only gets the child when she wants usually on week-ends. Once in blue moon husband gets to talk with his child but we are there with court papers to get child on his holiday visits. Courts signed paper in April 2001 the mother had outstanding medi bills on child dated before the courts signed. This balance is from ins. exceeding the $1500. allowable in a yr. Dr. bills dated in Nov,Dec,Jan of 2000. She wants husband to pay the remaining $500. Here's the problem.. I don't think he should pay it cause he was not legally the father till in April when both of them signed those court papers. Even though he was VOLUNTARILY carrying medi and dent ins on the child.(out of goodness of heart for his son) So, why shoud he pay that bill when she told him he had no legal right as father. She still 3 months later has not faxed a statement of what is owed. Anyways, open for any suggestions. When time comes we will get legal defense to handle the matter. But why pursue, she isn't and it's her credit not my husbands.
Thank-You

I understand the delima you are in, but I suggest that for the best interest of the child, your husband go ahead and pay the balance of the Med bills. This way there is health care incase of an emergency situation. Since the child is living with the grandmother, is there any reason that your husband has not sought custody? Seems like he would do much better in a more stable situation instead of flip-flopping between mom when it's convenient and grandma's house. I would think that the courts would side with the mature parent who can and will provide for the child.