Fathers Rights

[icklepickle]

I am hoping someone out there  can give me some advice.  My husband had a child with his ex-girlfriend, she refused to let him be named on the birth certificate and has not let him have any access to the boy.  She has recently got in touch saying it's time he got to know his "other" family and agreed to let my husband have access, that is until she found out we wer married with our own child.  As my husband isn't named on the birth certificate and has never been able to see his son is ther anything we can do ?  There is no underlying reason ie violence or drugs just an extrewme case of bitterness. Please help.

[hectic]

The only thing that I could suggest is to go and see a solicitor about the situation, this seems very unfair on your partner and the child in question by what abviously seems to me a woman scorned.  Has your partner been paying maintenence because if he hasn't then if it does go to court she could use this against him.  Best to see a solicitor in either case.

[PunkDaddy]

That's disgusting, she may be hurting your partner but she is also hurting her child. It is also disgusting that women have the power to do things like that, Fathers ar just as important.

[Le Chat]

As far as I am aware, the father has no rights if he was not married to the child's mother, unless he has signed a 'parental responsibility statement.' This, I believe is a new agreement brought in with the hope of bringing about some rights for unmarried fathers. Otherwise the man is deemed to be merely a sperm provider. Not nice!

[undercovers]

kerris i find that bizarre - it works the other way round e.g. mother wants financial support from ex partner (not married) i thought the father was compeled to pay... but the father doesn't have the right even to see the kid if mother wants nothing to do with him?

[Le Chat]

I believe so!

[SGKelloe32]

If he isnt mentioned on the birth certificate, unfortunately, he doesnt have a leg to stand on, without having a DNA test to prove the childis his, which he may indeed have to go to courtto get the mother to agree to it.A solicitor will be able to give you morelegal advice, but its a tough world we live inand its one where things arent fair!!