need advice fast

[mirkol]

i have a 5 yr.old daughter.her father & i were never married & a year ago i relocated to another state & let her stay with her dad so i could make sure my relocation would workout. since i've been here, i have gotten married & things are working out fine. i feel i need to get full custody of my daughter. there was never a court involved so far. all on verbal agreements. how do i go about getting full custody, & how much of a chance would i have being granted full custody? also which state do i need to start proceedings. I suppose the one that my daughter has resided in.

 

[Roscleo]

Yes you need to file for custody in the state she resides in. A few questions how long ago did you leave? Have you kept in close contact with her? Have you provided any type of support for her in the time you have been gone, ie financial, emotional? Your answers to these questions will determine your chances.

 

[lcollins]

You will have to go to court in the state where your daughter lives. If there was never any court ordered custody, then usually, the mother is considered the custodial parent. The father usually has to file for visitation, custody, and what not. Seeing as how she has lived with the father, you should consult an attorney to find out what all you need to do.