What are my rights as a Father?

[olsmith]

I have a 4 year old son who has lived with his mother down in Louisiana all his life. I am currently stationed in Virginia and have been separated from the mother since my son was 4 months old. I have been paying child support and have never missed a payment. Any time I want to see my son the mother insists on me going down to La. and refuses to let my son visit with me in Va. because I have moved on with my life. What are my rights as a father in getting joint custody of my son?

 

[hisdaddy]

Oh man! I am looking in the mirror! Call the Juvenile Courts in LA in the county or city where the child resides. You are going to have to get the papers to file for visitation sent to you. Ask what you need to file (child's ss card, birth certificate, paternity papers, etc.) If you don't have them, you can go get copies of them downtown where the child was born and send away for his ss card. You are going to have to pay a fee to file for visitation and becauseyou are stationed in VA with the military it is going to take a long time to get your visitation. If you can't appear for mediation,(where you try to agree) then they may let you do it over the phone like they let me. If you don't agree then you will have a pre-trial and a final hearing on the issue. Good luck! I am in the same exact situation, location, career, and went through that and then some with the ex! You're not alone!