I see my daughter 4 nights a week and her mom and I have had it this way for all 4 years of my daughters life. We have stayed out of the cou...

Question

I see my daughter 4 nights a week and her mom and I have had it this way for all 4 years of my daughters life. We have stayed out of the courts so there is nothing filed. The mother of my daughter now wants to move over 4 hours away but in the same state. I live in California and am wondering what I should first do with the courts? Should I file something for visitation? Do I file something addressing the move away law so that she can't leave until the court rules on the move away? She wants to move in the next month or so. Please help. Thank you

Answer

You need to file an action to establish paternity. At the same time you can file a Request that the court set a child sharing schedule and you should to ex-parte to obtain an order that the residence of the child not be moved from your county. I strongly suggest that you get an attorney. I have taught 2 seminars to attorneys and handled several appeals and you need to make sure that you have an attorney who has handled several "move-away" motions before. They are complex.