# Baby Mama Stole The Baby! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416 "2013-03-08T19:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zorochris1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8491ac/32.png) [@zorochris1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zorochris1)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/1 "2013-03-08T19:28:42Z")
Is it Legal for my baby girl’s mama to take our baby without my consent?She’s ony a few weeks old,and I have not yet taken the preternity test…I sure do miss her…☹ ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/2 "2013-03-08T19:34:37Z")
Need more info: what’s the custody agreement? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/3 "2013-03-08T19:48:24Z")
Take her where? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/4 "2013-03-08T19:50:36Z")
There’s an uncertainty about your preternity? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/5 "2013-03-08T19:51:55Z")
Details. What state do you live in, and does she contest your claim to paternity? (I keep thinking of the old joke - “Don’t worry guys, they’ll never figure it out. The doctor’s taking samples from your finger!” ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/6 "2013-03-08T21:04:17Z")
Huh? I assume unless you had a custody arrnagement, unless paternity is acknowledged, you have no current right?(IANAL) If paternity is established, you can then arrange visitation rights - if she won’t budge, the court can make her. (Unless she can show you are a danger to her child). If she takes off before paternity is established, I imagine you can sue to (a) establish paternity and (b) set visitation rights and schedule. Notice that all these options, unless she cooperates, involve courts and lawyers and lawyer fees. It is probably a good idea to discuss the specifics with a lawyer about what are your rights and options. Anything that establishes paternity also means you will likely be ordered to pay a significant amount of child support to her until the child turns 18 or finishes college. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/7 "2013-03-08T21:09:22Z")
Legal questions belong in IMHO. MOved from General Questions. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/8 "2013-03-08T21:24:07Z")
As far as the family court system in the US is concerned fathers are good for little more than a source of money and mothers have all the rights by virtue of being female. Unless of course they’re incarcerated in prison or a mental institution; then you have a good chance at custody, at least until they’re released. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/9 "2013-03-08T21:46:40Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > As far as the family court system in the US is concerned fathers are good for little more than a source of money and mothers have all the rights by virtue of being female. False. Men can and do win custody cases. I’ve represented a few of them. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/10 "2013-03-08T23:26:12Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > As far as the family court system in the US is concerned fathers are good for little more than a source of money and mothers have all the rights by virtue of being female. Unless of course they’re incarcerated in prison or a mental institution; then you have a good chance at custody, at least until they’re released. In the world of reality based conversation, joint custody is the default in most states. But men can and do gain joint custody. Men who are interested in protecting their custody rights are well advised to take an active role in taking care of their kids (giving them meals, staying home with them when they are sick, changing diapers, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/11 "2013-03-09T00:07:19Z")
OP definitely needs to consult a lawyer dealing in custody matters in his jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/12 "2013-03-09T02:14:19Z")
> [@zorochris1](#): > > Is it Legal for my baby girl’s mama to take our baby without my consent?She’s ony a few weeks old,and I have not yet taken the preternity test…I sure do miss her…☹ Stop posting on a message board and seek legal counsel immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-mama-stole-the-baby/652416/13 "2013-03-09T02:52:55Z")
never mind