Unmarried parents in Virginia

[ksmomma12]

Who has custody in a situation regarding a five month old in which:
-The parents are not married.
-The father is not on the birth certificate.
-The father has not proven paternity.
-The father hasn't supported the child financially.
-The child has the mother's lastname.
-The child has never left the mother (no visitation outside the mother's home)

What is the usual custodial arrangement decided when parents go to mediation?


How often are custody issues worked out in mediation?

 

[Proserpina]

Mediation = things are agreed.

The mediator is there to facilitate an agreement between the parents - the mediator cannot, and will not, make a decision themselves.

Mediation is sometimes a requirement before parents actually go to court (in other words, they have to at least try to figure something out themselves before the Judge decides to do it for them).

 

[Unregistered]

Okay, thanks. I understand. Do you have any information regarding the usual outcome of custody cases in Virginia when decided upon by a judge? Any information helps.