This is the story of a Dad. In the following paragraphs, I tried my best to condense my court battle.  My family is asking for a lot of money, so I think a lengthy background is necessary.  My court case is a FIRST in Kings County.  We came into it thinking it would be effortless because I have been in my son’s life from the very beginning, but unfortunately, that is not the case.  If you know anything about me, I am the last person who would set up one of these, but now I realize that this case is more significant than me, and it is bigger than my savings – but my son Henny is worth it. He is worth EVERY. DOLLAR. And he is worth me swallowing my pride.

** At this present time we have custody of my son under California  Presumed Fatherhood Law. We have been in a year long  custody case. The Courts Mediator ruled in our families  case and the Biological Father and myself have 50/50 custody.  We are not trying to keep our son from anyone we are fighting to remain part of his life. and we will move forward to get a law passed for all Dads in my position. This little boy knows his family. I am and have been Daddy to him and removing him from our life will be detrimental to him. We have a huge family that he looks up to, Big Big Brother, Big Brother,Brother, BoBo ( Brother),  This is about our extended family also Aunts, Uncles, Granny, Pappy, Cousins.  We Have fought hard  and will continue to fight. Please help us and donate to our fight if you can and most importantly share this story.  

Presumed Fatherhood - California Law Family Code Section 7611 and Section 7612(b)

**The presumed parent receives the child into his/her home and openly holds out the child as his/her natural child.**

So, here it goes:

In February 2016, I was told I was going to be a father for the second time.  I was super excited even though the mother and I were no longer dating. I attended doctor appointments, supported her financially and supported her decisions on her care. Then, when I was on a wildfire incident (Sand Fire) in July 2016, she informed me that she had lost the child. She asked me if I would mind if he were cremated and his ashes inserted into a teddy bear. I was supportive of any way she felt we should remember our son. I felt so alone in my mourning and wished I could be there with her to console her. Then, a couple of days later, I saw a massive shooting star. It was an unusual and sobering moment. I felt like my son was still here with me.  From that point, I committed to remain a friend to my son’s mother, even though she was no longer carrying my son. I contacted her in October of 2016, one month after my son, Henny’s, due date.  I offered to take her to dinner, and she declined. She then sent a photo of a very tiny baby and asked, “Would you like to meet your son?” I was shocked, yet overwhelmed with joy and immediately accepted the offer. I didn’t press her about why she lied to me about my child’s death, and I didn’t care at that point. I was in love with Henny, and any betrayal I felt had disappeared. 

Henny and his mom became part of my new extended family, attending gatherings with his big brother, aunts, and grandparents, spending holidays at my home and going on road trips meeting our family. During this time, I had conversations with Henny’s mother about his birth certificate as it did not have my name on it.  She told me that I would be added to the birth certificate soon. I took her at her word and didn’t press it. I had my boys, and that is all I needed. 

In 2017, we became engaged, however the engagement was short lived and we separated. Soon after, things began to change.  Henny’s mom moved and was very secretive about where she was living.  I was a bit suspicious, but never challenged her.  However, I did try many avenues to locate her in order to file for visitation, but had no success. My son’s mom made it clear that as long as the money kept coming, I would be able to have visits with Henny. So, I continued to financially support my son throughout this situation to ensure his wellbeing and continue seeing my son. These actions by Henny’s mom started a train-wreck of events for the next two and a half years.

Then things went from bad to worse.

On August 5, 2019, I found out my son’s mother went to jail for many crimes that she had been running from since 2014. I filed for emergency custody orders, and after a long day of searching and sifting through lies, the Sheriff’s Department and I finally located Henny staying with his mother’s current boyfriend, while she was incarcerated.

 

On August 12, 2019, I was awarded custody of my son as a Presumed Father under California Law. However, not long after that day, I was served with a court order demanding a paternity test and my presence in court. Devastatingly the paternity test revealed that I was not the biological father I thought I was all this time and that my mother’s son had lied to me and slept with another man while we were together.

Right now, I am  the PRESUMED FATHER of Henny.

I am not the BIOLOGICAL FATHER of Henny.

Henny’s mom was aware that I was not the biological father since March of 2019, but continued to allow me to raise Henny, develop a bond with him and financially support him. She knowingly committed and conspired to commit fraud as she never told me about the other father and still collected support from both me, his biological father and the State of California. Nevertheless, I would’ve paid double the amount to be with Henny, and I will continue this fight to the very end.

The other father has only been in my son’s life since March of 2019, while I have been there since the very beginning. My son knows me as daddy and the other father by his name. I am not saying the other father doesn’t deserve to be part of my son’s life, we all do, but he has directed all his anger towards my family and doesn’t believe I should have a part of my son’s life. My son’s mother is now out of jail and for some reason the courts think she is the best parental option. However, she has lived so many lies, is an opiate user and kept heroin around my son, which she admitted to in court. 

Henny’s mom, along with the cooperation of the biological father, believe that I should have no right to see my son anymore. They are seeking to take away all custody from me. Both have demonstrated dangerous behavior and even vague, yet deliberate threats through our court battle. This court battle hasn’t been easy. We have depleted our savings and reached into my 401k in order to pay the legal fees necessary to fight for my son. It has never been about the money, but it takes money to fight in court. 

This case is due to go to trial in August 2020. We have poured our blood, souls and our savings to keep Henny in our life, but now we need help.

All funds raised will be used to keep our family together and get a law passed to protect other dads in my position. This law will protect dads who may not be the biological father, but have raised a child as their own. Presumed Fathers should get visitation and even custody of their child, especially when the mother is deceptive for profit like in this case.

I have been asked to toss my son aside like a trash bag and forget him; I can’t do this nor will I.

 

Thank You,

Lohmann Family