I'm asking this Q on behalf of my sister. A friend of ours died a few days ago and it's got her thinking about covering herself just in case...
She spilt with the father of her daughter about six months ago. It was long overdue, he's a complete waste of space.
Anyway, she's terrified that if anything was ever to happen to her, that my niece would be sent to live with him and it's the last thing she wants. He currently has custody of his two sons from a previous relationship (their mother is an drug addict), but has been investigated about their welfare on several occasions. He is on cocaine and drinks a LOT! Thanks to his 'friends' helping him out though, the boys are still with him.
Since they split up, he has only seen my niece a couple of times and during those visits only used it as an opportunity to try it on with my sister. My niece is 22 months old, screams when he comes near her and she's the most confident toddler I've ever come across! His side of the family blank both of them in the street and so my sister is obviously troubled about what would happen with her daughter.
Is there anyway she can have a say in what happens to her when he is still 'around'?
They were never married, but unfortunately he is named on the birth certificate as her father. It's just such a worry to her now, as he isn't fit to be a dad.
Do you happen to know if she requires his permission to change her daughter's surname, please?
I would imagine your sister would need permission to change your neices name as the father on the birth certificate has automatic parental responsibility from 2003..whether married or not. Ethel can correct me if I am wrong!
I am not sure if the surname on the birth certificate can be changed, though.
Ethel (sorry to be a nuisance), do you know how she would begin to try for sole custody or can Citizens Advice help with that? He's been warned by the police to stay away from them after smashing her door down, so I gather this might help in such a case?
Well Ws...Ethel was far more help in the maths department...LOL!
Can your sister see a solicitor? if not, she can apply to the local family courts for sole residency (it isn't called custody anymore) for a smaller fee..a solicitor may just ask for too much money for something quite simple she can do herself. I only know this as Mr Pippa represented himself in a residency/contact battle and saved himself thousands of quid ;o)
As the bloke has had a police warning it doesn't look good for him anyway..but she must prepare herself in case he decides to contest ~ whether he is successful or not, he still has the 'right' to cause a stink, unfortunately :o(