15 year old mother! Please Help!

[Jennifer1258]

15 yr old mother!! In need of help!!

Hi. I'm 15 years old and i have a 4 month old son. I'm soon going to be going through child support and custody issues with my son's father (age 18).He lives with his girlfrined and they will soon be married. I was 14 and he was 17 when this happened.My parents are supportive of my son. They weren't happy that i had him at a young age, but they still love him. Adam, my son's father is going to get him everyone other weekend and once a week, but i'm afriad that later on down the road, him and his girlfriend are going to try and take me to court and him from me. My son and I both live with my parents and they support the both of us. I don't have a job becuase I'm not old enough to get one, so could he could say that i'm an unfit mother because I can't support him? And would he win in a custody battle? Could he take him from me? (I live in Kentucky)
Thanks

[Edited by Jennifer1258 on 01-07-2001 at 11:27 PM]

 

[LadyBlu]

Hi. I'm 15 years old and i have a 4 month old son. I'm soon going to be going through child support and custody issues with my son's father (age 17). He's going to get him everyone other weekend and once a week, but i'm afriad that later on down the road, him and his girlfriend are going too try and take him from me.We both live with my parents and they support the both of us. I don't have a job becuase I'm not old enough to get one, so could he could say that i'm an unfit mother because I can't support him? And would he win in a custody battle? Could he take him from me?
Thanks

I am assuming he is also living at home with his parents? So that puts you on a level playing field on that issue. Not sure what state you are in, but if I were your parent I would be filing criminal charges against the ex boyfriend. How do your parents feel about you having the child? Are they supportive? That is going to have a very big impact on how the hearing turns out. Once you have the custody established and/if you retain physical custody, the ex b/f and his g/f could be jailed for taking the child and not returning him as ordered by the court. I would suggest you read some of the posts on this board regarding custody, modifications and support issues so you are better prepared.

 

[truth is powerful]

Most agencies would consider your living situation as a support system for your baby, espacially for a mother of your age as long as your parents were law abiding folks.I would advise not to break any court ordered visitation that is in place, but in most states overnight visitation doesnt begin until the child is older.IF you havent already try to come up with a parenting plan you both agree on, most states have general guidelines.Please dont see your help from family as a liabilty, stay in school if possible to show that you plan on being able to support this child in the future and if your family goes to church stay involved, courts like to know parent have people to turn to and consider support systems as an asset to childrens lives. take care of yourself and that baby. p.s. I am not a lawer just speaking from experience and research