SingleDadNTN
Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TN
Ok so I have a 2.5 yr old daughter. Me and the mother have been together for about 3.5 years. We have lived in TN the entire time. Never were married, but I am the father and did sign the Birth Certificate and from a previous court date I am the adjudicated father. I have been the sole support and have claimed both as dependents on my tax return because she didn't work enough (less than 3K per year). Things had been rough and she took my daughter with her and moved to TX with her parents. This happened end of Sept. I have since filed in my local office to obtain custody. The court date is Dec 8th. Basically, mother has a drinking problem and while it isn't as bad as others it limits her abilities to be a good parent. Here are some of the facts:
1. Mother has failed to keep a job for longer than 3 months. Has earned maybe 6K in the last 3 years. Every job she has had she quits or gets fired for attendance due to drinking and could not get a good reference from any of them.
2. Mother does have criminal history relating to alcohol. She has a public intox in TN w/ false impersonation (fake ID), Outstanding warrant in TX for public intox, outstanding warrant in TX for DUI as a minor and failure to appear.
3. Took mom to Court in 2007 for a dependent neglect to which she was court ordered to attend intensive outpatient.
4. Have blogs from Mom's sister who describes her sister as a raging alcholic and unable to care for her child...lot more good stuff that basically says that shes "unfit" and goes on long term drinking sprees.
5. Since she has been in TX, I talked with my daughter in the month of October and after I filed in Nov, I have not talked to my daughter. I have called, mailed and emailed requesting to talk to my daughter and have been ignored. I tried to send a phone plan and money registered mail and it was refused 2x. Honestly they have taken me out of my daughters life for the past month and just don't care.
I am going to court on the 8th and wanted to know how I should approach everything. I have the list of the 11 things in TN that determine what's in the child's best interest. Should I stick to that list and talk about why I would be the best parent for Kaydence right now and then when the mother goes to talk question her about all the stuff? I also have 2 witnesses that have some pretty damaging info on her as well along with my family testimony. What are the keys to proving unfit? Just some general advice would help.
Ok so I have a 2.5 yr old daughter. Me and the mother have been together for about 3.5 years. We have lived in TN the entire time. Never were married, but I am the father and did sign the Birth Certificate and from a previous court date I am the adjudicated father. I have been the sole support and have claimed both as dependents on my tax return because she didn't work enough (less than 3K per year). Things had been rough and she took my daughter with her and moved to TX with her parents. This happened end of Sept. I have since filed in my local office to obtain custody. The court date is Dec 8th. Basically, mother has a drinking problem and while it isn't as bad as others it limits her abilities to be a good parent. Here are some of the facts:
1. Mother has failed to keep a job for longer than 3 months. Has earned maybe 6K in the last 3 years. Every job she has had she quits or gets fired for attendance due to drinking and could not get a good reference from any of them.
2. Mother does have criminal history relating to alcohol. She has a public intox in TN w/ false impersonation (fake ID), Outstanding warrant in TX for public intox, outstanding warrant in TX for DUI as a minor and failure to appear.
3. Took mom to Court in 2007 for a dependent neglect to which she was court ordered to attend intensive outpatient.
4. Have blogs from Mom's sister who describes her sister as a raging alcholic and unable to care for her child...lot more good stuff that basically says that shes "unfit" and goes on long term drinking sprees.
5. Since she has been in TX, I talked with my daughter in the month of October and after I filed in Nov, I have not talked to my daughter. I have called, mailed and emailed requesting to talk to my daughter and have been ignored. I tried to send a phone plan and money registered mail and it was refused 2x. Honestly they have taken me out of my daughters life for the past month and just don't care.
I am going to court on the 8th and wanted to know how I should approach everything. I have the list of the 11 things in TN that determine what's in the child's best interest. Should I stick to that list and talk about why I would be the best parent for Kaydence right now and then when the mother goes to talk question her about all the stuff? I also have 2 witnesses that have some pretty damaging info on her as well along with my family testimony. What are the keys to proving unfit? Just some general advice would help.