Grandmother has custody.

[justinnasp]

I'm the father and the grandmother has had custody since birth. I was in the navy and the mother was locked up when child was born. What rights does the grandmother have to retain the child's custody if I petition the court for sole custody? I live in Maine and the child lives with grandmother in Holt, FL.

[Attorney Cheri Hobbs]

You can file a Petition for Sole Parental Responsibility in Florida in the county where the child resides. You will need to be very specific about what right you have to the child and why the grandparent was taking care of the child this whole time. It would be wise to figure out how the grandparent might still remain in contact with the child once the child relocates since the child has been "raised by the grandparent." You might want to read the following article: Grandparent's Rights and Child custody - Tampa-St Petersburg-Clearwater-Pasco-Hernando