Steven needs help to get an attorney to establish his paternal rights. Most states have funding for legal aid to help a mother go after a deadbeat dad but not to help a father be a part of his child's life. An unwed father has no rights to his child unless the mother signs a parental agreement or he files a petition for paternity in the courts. The attorneys fees are $2500 just to get started and get him some visitation rights. He has registered with the state as a punitive father, which is a declaration that he is the biological father.
Up until Caleb was born, the mother said she would put Steve on the birth certificate and wanted him to be a part of the baby's life even though they weren't married. She was to be induced on a certain day and I flew in to be at the birth with my son. She went into labor the day before and we got the news 12 hours later that Steven was the dad of a beautiful baby boy. It broke his heart that she didn't tell him so he could be there for the birth as planned. He got to spend a few hours the first 2 days of Caleb's life with him and hasn't been allowed to see him since. Caleb will be 6 months old August 21st. The mother was influenced by her parents, whom she lives with and completely turned around about letting Steven be in Caleb's life. She told him he would have to establish paternity and get visitation rights if he intended to see him. We have both tried to appeal to her and she changed her phone number, got off of all social networks and won't answer any emails. She knows he doesn't have a vehicle and doesn't make a lot of money. However, he has tried to send money for Caleb and she refused it.
Steven is working 2 jobs trying to raise money and is not making much headway. As his parents, we would gladly pay for an attorney but don't have the funds. We are 62 and both working to make a living.
I am appealing to you to help with whatever you can, even $1 per person would add up so a father can bond with his son and let him know that he is loved by both his parents. It is a proven fact that a child needs to know both parents for psychological reasons as well as knowing his heritage, his extended family, and health background. No child should grow up without knowing the love of his father. I also appeal to you to sign any petition available to get laws changed so that unwed fathers can have equal rights for their children and would not be at the mercy of the mother to make those lifelong decisions for that child.
We adopted Steven as a newborn, so he doesn't know his biological mother or father and I know the pain he feels. You can imagine how he feels not being able to know his son, watch him as he grows and develops, and express how very much he loves him.
I have prayed about this since I found out he was going to be a dad and more recently prayed that God would show me a way to help him and I came across indiegogo campaigns and knew it was the answer.
So pray about it and if your heart tells you that this is a good cause, then you can feel good about it and if all you can do is offer additonal prayer, that would be graciously accepted as well.
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