Sailor Granted Custody of Child After Mother’s Incarceration

A Navy servicemember had a young child that was the result of a non-marital relationship. He learned that his child’s mother had been incarcerated, and was expected to be in prison for many years. The child was in the care of her grandmother, but the sailor wanted to seek full custody of his child. He visited a legal assistance office for help, and his case was referred to the ABA Military Pro Bono Project.

The ABA Military Pro Bono Project connected the sailor with a local pro bono attorney. The volunteer attorney spent hundreds of hours advocating for the sailor and the child. With the attorney’s help, the grandmother’s guardianship was terminated, and a custody order was entered in the sailor’s favor.