need advice: i have never been to court and do not pay child support

when i was 14 i had sexual intercourse for the first time with an older girl, she was 16 or 17. 7 years later i found out i was a father from my daughters step-father. i had gotten a paternity test done and the results were positive, and have been active in her life ever since. i have never been to court and do not pay child support. my daughter is 16 years old now and wants to try living with me. i have always known that i can provide better but didnt want to take my daughter from her mother. my daughter has two years of high school left and has alot less oppurtunities in the small town she lives in. she and myself just want things to work out easily but her mom says she wont allow it. what do i need to do?

[olive]

You would have to file in court and seek a custody order.

The court could order that she live with you, or it may decide you get more access etc.

You will have to have reasonably strong reasons for wanting this all to occur at this point. And you will have to show that it is in your daughter's best interests.

If you've known you could provide better, why have you not been financially supporting her in the years since you found out she was your biological child?

If you want to help support your child, feel free to do so.

i have always provided for her financially. i am just not court ordered to do so.

You're not getting it. Question asked and answered.