Court Experiences with Infants in Colorado

When my ex and I separated 7 years ago my daughter was 5 weeks old - he didn't take her for any overnights until after a year when I stopped nursing. He did take her for a couple of hours here and there before that. He is now separated from his wife and they have an infant and they worked it out to where he does take her for overnights and she pumps. The courts typically look for different sexes and age groups to have their own rooms and the child support in Colorado is an automatic form that calculates the amount based on both parents' incomes and number of overnights. Half is very generous of you!! He'd be paying more. Hang in there it can be very overwhelming - I hope you have some support somewhere! (church, friends, family.....)

I doubt the father will get much visitation, etc since the baby is so little. You have nothing to worry about. However, I think you may have to go to court on the financial part if he is not willing to help. Document EVERYTHING and keep a record of how much money he has given you or what he has bought for the baby and what you spend the money on. Did you list him as the father on the birth certificate? If you did, then my personal opinion is that the child should have his last name (maybe you could hyphenate it). I have strong feelings about that since my husband's ex tried to this with him, but that's just me.
You'll be okay even though it's difficult.
Good luck in it all.
J.

Call the "Child Support Registry" @ ###-###-####. I say that he is just another lame, dead beat dad. My children have one of those. He doesn't want anything to do with that baby, because you are telling him now that he can come and see his child whenever he wants and he won't. And all these threats about court, dare him to take you. Especially if he signed the birth certificate. I have a friend that is taking a man for child support and he isn't even the father of the child, but he signed the birth certificate.

You have very little worry about, in the state of Colorado the favor goes to the mother big time. The father of this child is crazy, you are being incredibly fair! Wait until he sees how ugly court will be for him. That being said, stand your ground on no sleep overs if he has a girlfriend over for the night or living with him. People today are so lax with children and think these things do not make a difference. This is NOT OK for kids of any age. I also highly doubt that any judge anywhere will demand a mother not breastfeed their infant.

To be safe, you need to be sure you do your research right away and find a good lawyer. Really study up and find a "bulldog", not so you get more than what is fair, but to be sure you do not get taken from this guy. I have a feeling if he is complaining about the menial amount you are asking from him he will back down when he sees how much this type of litigation is going to cost.

Good luck to you, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this at such an early stage of your child's life. It is hard enough to raise children without a dad that doesn't get it.