The best, easiest, and safest way to do this would be to get a lawyer(one that knows custody cases), have them draw up the papers, you and the father both sign them, and the lawyer will file them and get the judge to sign them. Should take no more than 6 to 8 months at the most.
No, if they are married they have equal custody.
He can still gain custody as the presumptive father.
The mother. The father have to petition the court for shared custody.
If married, he doesn't have to.
Yes, only Arizona is different.
Not without the permission of the child's biological mother. When a couple are not married and there is not a custodial order from the court, the law presumes that the mother has sole custody of the child in question.
If they are legally married, the father gets rights until mother gets out of prison, after that it is up to the state. If not legally married, they go into state custody.
A single father, what does that mean? Are you divorced, ever married to the mother of your child, or is the child adopted by you, or is the mother dead or out of the picture? If your question is "How does a Father obtain residential custody after a divorce or in a paternity case", then I can answer this question. Let me know what your grounds for custody are. What is it about the mother or other parent that makes it harmful for the child to remain in their care?
mother has sole custody even if living with father
The mother. The father have to petition the court for custody or visitation right.
Depends if it is a single trailer or a double-wide
Unless they are married or he has custody he has to return the child or it will be kidnapping. If you are not married and you have not established paternity yet or have not petitioned for visitation or custody she does not have to let you see the child. When not married she automatically get custody since there is proof she is the parent.