Co-Parenting Conflict: Ex Won't Let Me Introduce Son to My Girlfriend

Hello Folks,

I’m looking for some advice on a co-parenting issue I’m facing. I’ve been with my girlfriend for almost two years now, and I’ve been trying to handle things carefully when introducing her to my son. I waited over a year to make sure there wouldn’t be any drama that could affect my son.

Unfortunately, my ex has made it clear that she doesn’t like my girlfriend. Recently, things escalated when they got into a pretty nasty argument over Facebook Messenger. Now, my ex is insisting that my son is never allowed to be around my girlfriend again.

We were never married, and we haven’t gone to court for anything related to custody or visitation. Right now, the only legal document in place is an acknowledgment of paternity.

My question is: Is there anything I can do to address this situation legally? Is an acknowledgment of paternity sufficient for me to make decisions about who is around my son, or would I need to go to court to establish more formal custody arrangements to prevent my ex from dictating my personal life?

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Hello,You need to get a custody order. Why should she dictate what you do or who you have around your son?

Hire a lawyer and go to court. Get everything in writing so she can’t play games. This isn’t just about you and your girlfriend—she’s risking your relationship with your son and could hurt her own relationship with him too. You should have done this earlier, but now it’s crucial to get a legal setup in place.

When you have your child, you decide who can see them unless a court order says otherwise. If you don’t have a court order for custody and parenting time, get one as soon as possible.

Your girlfriend should not be talking to your ex, especially not through messages. She shouldn’t be arguing or responding at all.

Hey,
Your ex might have a valid concern if she’s arguing with her on Facebook.

It’s time to set up a formal custody arrangement—it’s long overdue. Hire a lawyer and put a formal plan in place.

Hi Moore,
I’m sure it’s been suggested before, so sorry if this is repetitive, but you need to get a parenting plan as soon as possible. Your ex can’t dictate who you bring your child around if you’re a responsible parent, and from what you’ve said, it sounds like you are.