Legal Question in Family Law in Puerto Rico

Legal Custody of a Child

I'm a non custodial father paying child support for my 6 year old boy that live in Puerto Rico with his mother. I'm curreently living in Virginia, USA. I just found out that the boy was taken from the mother by Department of Family and given to the Grandmother without any notification to me. I found out the mother was having mental problems and drug problems and this was the reason for taking the child from her. Why I wasn't contacted by Department of Family or ASUME, can they do that transfer withouth consulting me? I'm current in my child support obligation, ASUME has my contact information. What could be going on here,is this normal.


Asked on 5/30/06, 8:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Julio C. Alejandro Julio C. Alejandro Serrano Attorney at Law

Re: Legal Custody of a Child

Unfortunately, yes. ASUME works as a separate branch within the Department of Family. This means that although ASUME is part of the Department of Family in political terms, that is as far as their relationship goes. There is no unified database that will allow the Department of Family, and ASUME to share contact information about ASUME's "clients".

You should appear before the Superior Court and ask to be given the custody of your child, and to have them discontinue the "Pension" until this matter is sorted out, or indefinitely, if the mother's incapacity was permanent.

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Answered on 5/31/06, 9:44 am


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