Quick background:
Biological father has been absent/uninvolved in child's life by his choice (has never met child, though did sign birth certificate). Recent attempt at communication with biological father saw no interest in the child (did not ask about child, nor request to speak to child).
He has paid child support intermittently & generally due to Child Support Agency garnishing his wages until he changes jobs. No child support has been received since 2014.
An offer was made to travel interstate to the biological father to enable him to meet the child. He agreed however then began making reasons as to why it was not suitable to do so until next year.
Despite agreeing to sign passport papers & receiving them to sign, the biological father after two months refused to return papers (though he apparently has signed them). This has resulted in the child being unable to attend a family reunion held overseas. He has said he is requesting DNA testing which I have agreed to, however has not arranged for testing to be done (this is due to him knowing that he is the biological father).
Step father has been the child's only father figure from 2 years old. For all intents & purposes, he is the child's father & is referred to as such by the child. The child has two siblings who are the biological children of the step father (we do not refer to them as "step", of "half", they are siblings).
I am now attempting mediation, however given history I don't believe it will be successful (there may be an agreement made through mediation but I would not expect him to then sign for the consent orders to be filed in court).
Our next step is family court. I have had plans to seek sole parental responsibility due to non-involvement from the biological father, with a clause saying we will help facilitate communication/visits between the child & biological father if requested/sought by the biological father (we have discussed this & agree that we are able & willing to do this). This has been discussed with a solicitor as being a realistic request.
An option that I am interested in looking at is shared parental responsibility with the step father (no parental responsibility to the biological father). He is involved in the day to day & long term decisions of all the children & seems like a logical step.
Has anyone had parenting orders drawn up that included a step parent in the allocation of parental responsibility? Was the orders approved by the court? What reasoning did you use to seek this allocation of parental responsibility?
**please note there are no issues of family/domestic violence - the biological father is uninterested & absent from the child's life. He is mainly uncontactable by email/text/messenger or phone (unless calling with number blocked)
Biological father has been absent/uninvolved in child's life by his choice (has never met child, though did sign birth certificate). Recent attempt at communication with biological father saw no interest in the child (did not ask about child, nor request to speak to child).
He has paid child support intermittently & generally due to Child Support Agency garnishing his wages until he changes jobs. No child support has been received since 2014.
An offer was made to travel interstate to the biological father to enable him to meet the child. He agreed however then began making reasons as to why it was not suitable to do so until next year.
Despite agreeing to sign passport papers & receiving them to sign, the biological father after two months refused to return papers (though he apparently has signed them). This has resulted in the child being unable to attend a family reunion held overseas. He has said he is requesting DNA testing which I have agreed to, however has not arranged for testing to be done (this is due to him knowing that he is the biological father).
Step father has been the child's only father figure from 2 years old. For all intents & purposes, he is the child's father & is referred to as such by the child. The child has two siblings who are the biological children of the step father (we do not refer to them as "step", of "half", they are siblings).
I am now attempting mediation, however given history I don't believe it will be successful (there may be an agreement made through mediation but I would not expect him to then sign for the consent orders to be filed in court).
Our next step is family court. I have had plans to seek sole parental responsibility due to non-involvement from the biological father, with a clause saying we will help facilitate communication/visits between the child & biological father if requested/sought by the biological father (we have discussed this & agree that we are able & willing to do this). This has been discussed with a solicitor as being a realistic request.
An option that I am interested in looking at is shared parental responsibility with the step father (no parental responsibility to the biological father). He is involved in the day to day & long term decisions of all the children & seems like a logical step.
Has anyone had parenting orders drawn up that included a step parent in the allocation of parental responsibility? Was the orders approved by the court? What reasoning did you use to seek this allocation of parental responsibility?
**please note there are no issues of family/domestic violence - the biological father is uninterested & absent from the child's life. He is mainly uncontactable by email/text/messenger or phone (unless calling with number blocked)
