Advice... father wanting to keep custody

[vikki83]

My new partner has a little girl that is 2 years old and he has taken care of her since she was a baby but now his ex is trying to get custody and it would break my heart to see this happen as it know it would destroy him.

From what i know the mother had post natal depression after having the baby and the relationship broke down but as she was unable to cope they made the decision that the child was best with him. The past two years he has worked full time and looked after his little girl, he has never denied access to his ex, and in fact lets her stay over at his house a few nights a week so she can be with her daughter. He even makes sure there are pictures of the childs mum in her room as family is very important for him (he was fostered so this explains that).

Recently he was charged for drink driving - which he regrets - but he has carried on working and supporting his daughter. What are his chances of keeping hold of his daughter, especially with a criminal record? He has been banned from driving for 12 months. Since this incident his ex also seems hell bent on making out he has a drink problem, although the reality of it is that he has a few drinks when he is at home watching sport (pretty normal for most men).

By the way, I am yet to have met his daughter or ex as we feel this would complicate the current situation and provoke his ex - who it seems has become more concerned about getting custody of her daughter since she found out he was seeing someone - although i am the first girlfriend he has had in two years.

She says that thier daughter cant have another mother and it seems this may be why she wants full custody, from what i know she has an unrealistic idea of how things would move forward as she thinks neither of them should have new partners, despite the fact she says she accepts they are no longer together.

Any advice would be appreciated...