Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

My adult daughter is pregnant and was in a brief relationship with father of child. They were told she was going to miscarry after ultrasound of what looked like an empty sac. Before they knew this information, he was clear he wanted her to abort and would protect "his interests". They have ended relationship and he has had no contact with her. She had no signs of miscarriage and went to another Dr. and they did ultrasound and baby is viable and pregnancy is progressing. She plans to keep baby. She wants to make contact with the father and notify him that she is still pregnant and keeping baby because she feels this is the moral and correct thing to do. What lengths does she need to go to get this information to him? He has blocked some avenues of communication. Should she leave a voice mail or will a text message suffice if he has not blocked her number. Will a court require that she prove she attempted to notify him, and is there something specific she needs to state in this notification? IF he still does not want anything to do with baby, does she still include his name on birth certificate? Does she need to still file legal paper work after baby is born to protect herself? She definitely is open to being adult and working with this young man but if he wants no part of this she wants to protect herself and baby. She has a strong family support system.


Asked on 6/19/13, 4:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Amir John Showrai The Pacific Law Firm, PLLC

These are really great questions and many folks in your daughter's situation ask them. When the baby is born, the hospital will present forms to fill out and often they will pressure her for the father's information. That said, she should put his name on the birth certificate, if for no other reason that because it is her child's right to know who the father is.

As for notifying the father, I would send a letter via certified mail with a return receipt, and keep a photocopy for your records. Your daughter could and I would say should file a paternity case to set up an order of child support. Even if the father is in no position to pay support now, she should still do this to make sure that she gets what is coming to her when he can pay. After all, babies don't raise themselves and pay for their own diapers and daycare, etc.

She should also set up a custody order, regardless of what the father wants to�will he be involved or stay away? There are many reasons to do this. First, by having custody orders in place, it prevents trouble down the road. For example, if your daughter wants to get a passport for the child to travel, since both parents' signatures are required on birth certificates, she will want a court order allowing someone to be appointed to sign in the father's place in case he is out of the picture and his whereabouts are unknown down the road.

Another issue that frequently comes up is when an out of the picture father suddenly comes into the child's life and starts asking mom for time. What should she do? If she lets him see the child and there are no court orders in place, there is nothing forcing him to return the child either. I've been called many times by a parent in distress because the other parent refuses to return the child and there are no court orders. It becomes an expensive problem not to mention very stressful.

Each case is different, but in general, what I've written above (getting a paternity case started, putting the father on the birth certificate, and seeking child support and custody orders) is what needs to be done at a minimum in each such case with children born out of wedlock. This is how your daughter can best protect her rights, and ensure her child's safety. It is also how she can make sure that the father is paying his fair share of child support, regardless of whether he intends to be a part of his child's life.

If you need help with this, please feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

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Answered on 6/19/13, 10:29 pm


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