Does mom get automatic custody in Canada?

[Blue_star]

I am 22 and single never married, when I have my baby will I have full custody ? or will I have to fill out papers or go to court for it? The father is my ex-boyfriend who I have known for years he has become very unstable and moving all over the place always changes his mind back and fourth over time.

I'm now almost 20 weeks pregnant and instead of being here for me he has run off with a bag someplace and won't come back into town. At first he was very supportive wanted to be in the babies life then suddenly changed his mind and decided to move away again with no job living off the money from his pocket. His parents came to visit me the other day telling me they want to be grandparents to the baby and they want to be in his/her life and seemed very interested in seeing it. They apologized for how there son is acting and they think he needs help or needs to be on medication they tried but he refused to get help.

I'm worried he will suddenly change his mind in a few months as he usually does and decide he wants to see the baby and then change his mind again. I don't want my child to grow up around that I feel like my baby deserves the best and that kind of treatment is unacceptable. I don't want to keep his parents away I'd feel bad as they are responsible and trying to keep in touch about the baby but I feel that my Ex doesn't deserve to just change his mind back and fourth about this and that I do not want him around my child until he gets help. Can I prevent him from seeing him/her?

 

[aliss]

Yes, an unmarried mother has automatic custody (marriage means automatic equal custody).

No, you cannot keep him away if he chooses to petition the courts to establish paternity and visitation. The same will have to be done if you ever seek child support and/or government assistance (ie. welfare).

If he chooses to do nothing, you can always make arrangements with the grandparents on an informal basis. If he chooses to establish a relationship with the child, he can and will be able to do this through the courts.

In all honesty, the ONLY way to prevent the man from being in the child's life is to terminate the pregnancy. Once you continue the pregnancy, he has the right to establish his joint custody/full custody (unlikely)/and visitation. Even if he does not sign at the birth, this can be done later. The only other method is for the courts to terminate his parental rights and this is impossible unless he has some sort of relevant conviction such as child abuse to your baby, the standard of parenting is very low.

 

[Dream.dream]

agree with wahts said above, you cant keep the baby away from him if he wants acess, as much as it sucks,the most you can do is to try for sole custody but he can still get visitation rights, even if they are supervised.
if your worried about it once the baby is born, go tocourt yourself with evidence of why hes unstable and you will likly get sole custody and you can set up child suport and visitation on your terms before its a problem,

good luck