Unwed dad trying to be a parent

[escape2paradise]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WA

I'm trying to help a friends son. He had a child out of wedlock. He and mom broke up before they even knew she was pregnant. Baby was born May 2015. Dad tried to stay amicable with mom through pregnancy, helping with her doctor bills etc... Anyway, once baby was born mom was not interested in dad's participation. Mom has let dad see baby a few times for about 20 min. each.

Dad wants to be a parent to the baby so went to court facilitator to figure out what he needed to do in order to establish paternity, child support and visitation. After mom was served she agreed she would sign necessary papers naming him dad and forgoing testing etc..., but then after docs were all signed and submitted through Child Support Enforcement she called and told CSE not submit to court that she had changed her mind. They pulled papers told dad sorry, that he now needed to wait for prosecuting attorney's office. I suggested that didn't sound correct to me since a case had already been filed by dad and that he just needed to move forward. He went back to facilitator who told him to try and get mom to sign papers else a GAL would have to get involved and more court action that he could try and avoid. He talked to mom and she agreed that she would meet and sign papers multiple times but then at last minute would not be able to make the meetings.

Eventually dad figured that she was just stalling him. He called and emailed the facilitator, that he was assigned, and after weeks and multiple attempts with no response he decided to try and proceed on his own. He went to the court house where he found that mom had actually responded to his initial filing, he was unaware as mom did not serve him a copy and only filed one with the court. Anyway, in the response, mom admits to all dad's assertions that he is dad, that he should be named on birth cert etc...Dad filed a Motion for Summary Judgement On Parentage which asks that dad be named dad, named on birth cert and that proposed parenting plan be implemented etc... He also filed the proposed PP. Is this correct? Is there anything else he should be filing? The Summary judgement doesn't ask reason for request so does he need a separate declaration or something. The courts scheduled a hearing for March 3.

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WA

I'm trying to help a friends son. He had a child out of wedlock. He and mom broke up before they even knew she was pregnant. Baby was born May 2015. Dad tried to stay amicable with mom through pregnancy, helping with her doctor bills etc... Anyway, once baby was born mom was not interested in dad's participation. Mom has let dad see baby a few times for about 20 min. each.

Dad wants to be a parent to the baby so went to court facilitator to figure out what he needed to do in order to establish paternity, child support and visitation. After mom was served she agreed she would sign necessary papers naming him dad and forgoing testing etc..., but then after docs were all signed and submitted through Child Support Enforcement she called and told CSE not submit to court that she had changed her mind. They pulled papers told dad sorry, that he now needed to wait for prosecuting attorney's office. I suggested that didn't sound correct to me since a case had already been filed by dad and that he just needed to move forward. He went back to facilitator who told him to try and get mom to sign papers else a GAL would have to get involved and more court action that he could try and avoid. He talked to mom and she agreed that she would meet and sign papers multiple times but then at last minute would not be able to make the meetings.

Eventually dad figured that she was just stalling him. He called and emailed the facilitator, that he was assigned, and after weeks and multiple attempts with no response he decided to try and proceed on his own. He went to the court house where he found that mom had actually responded to his initial filing, he was unaware as mom did not serve him a copy and only filed one with the court. Anyway, in the response, mom admits to all dad's assertions that he is dad, that he should be named on birth cert etc...Dad filed a Motion for Summary Judgement On Parentage which asks that dad be named dad, named on birth cert and that proposed parenting plan be implemented etc... He also filed the proposed PP. Is this correct? Is there anything else he should be filing? The Summary judgement doesn't ask reason for request so does he need a separate declaration or something. The courts scheduled a hearing for March 3.

He needs to make sure that mom has been served a copy of the proposed PP and Motion for Summary Judgment as well as a notice of the hearing on March 3. He then needs to show up. Between now and then, he needs to read all of the statutes on custody. (He actually should have done that before having a PP prepared.)

 

[escape2paradise]

He needs to make sure that mom has been served a copy of the proposed PP and Motion for Summary Judgment as well as a notice of the hearing on March 3. He then needs to show up. Between now and then, he needs to read all of the statutes on custody. (He actually should have done that before having a PP prepared.)

Thanks for your help. He did serve mom copies, via registered mail. He was told that is fine once initial action was actually served by process server. I will tell him to get busy reading, I know he's done some but probably not what he needs to.

 

[Ohiogal]

Thanks for your help. He did serve mom copies, via registered mail. He was told that is fine once initial action was actually served by process server. I will tell him to get busy reading, I know he's done some but probably not what he needs to.

Also have him read the rules of procedure (civil procedure) and the local rules. Then if he wants further help, he needs to sign on here with his OWN user name.