What are my rights to visitation ifI am not the biological father?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are my rights to visitation ifI am not the biological father?
I married a woman that had a 1 1/2 year old. I never adopted her and her biological father is a dead beat. She is now 9 1/2. She looks at me as dad and I she as my daughter. With an impending divorce, what rights would I have to visitation, if any?
Asked on August 7, 2011 Texas
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You sound like a good guy and she has been lucky to have you in her life for these years. But generally speaking, step parents can only obtain rights to custody and visitation in extreme and unique circumstances. I would speak with an attorney on your behalf. When you say that her father is a "dead beat" do you mean that he does not pay child support and that you have supported the child all these years? Do you plan on continuing t do so even though you have no real legal obligation to do so? If you do and you wish to ask for continued visitation I would think that would be reasonable. But if your wife refuses to allow you you may be stuck. Good luck to you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.