Jim and Jessica Braz - Baby Out of Wedlock: Co-Parenting Basics from Pregnancy to Custody

About the Authors

Years before Jim and Jessica Braz married, they each had a child born out of wedlock with another partner. They wrote Baby Out of Wedlock to answer basic but common questions about this situation, thereby reducing legal bills and leading to healthier co-parenting relationships.

Praise for Baby Out of Wedlock

CO-PARENTING BASICS FROM PREGNANCY TO CUSTODY

I highly recommend Baby Out of Wedlock to anyone who wants to learn the complicated dynamics of co-parenting while emphasizing the childs needs first.

Kevin Falkenstein, Family Law Attorney and Partner, Moustakas Nelson LLC

My work focuses on what can eventually happen in a worst-case situation. Unmarried parents who read Baby Out of Wedlock are taking a first step in the right direction.

Ginger Gentile, Director & Producer of the documentary Erasing Family and one of Maria Shrivers Architects of Change

In my behavioral health practice, I often see the emotional toll that custody battles have on unmarried parents and their children. Baby Out of Wedlock can make a difference in both parents and their childrens long-term mental health.

Francesca Santacroce, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Owner, Serenity Behavioral Health

When a client is knowledgeable about the basics of family law, it makes my job easier, and everyone benefits. Baby Out of Wedlock is a great primer for anyone navigating the pregnancy-to-custody continuum.

Jessica E. Smith, Family Law Attorney and Partner, JSDC Law Offices

Pregnancy out of wedlock can be an incredibly scary experience. This book, with its emphasis on the importance of mental health, is a great guide. It helps readers know they are not alone.

Rachel Cohen, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Supervisor, The Soho Center in New York City

Baby Out of Wedlock provides answers to all the basic questions that inevitably challenge a co-parenting relationship. If both parents read this book, they can work together with less stress and anxiety while limiting the cost of lawyers.

Andrew Keegan, Actor and Co-Parent

My work is all about how people get through adversity, and Baby Out of Wedlock has nailed its topic. Jim & Jessica Braz have written stories of who people need to be in order to navigate this experience. With their guidance, both parents and kids can live free of hostility, pain, and anguish.

Bob Litwin, Performance Coach and Author of Live the Best Story of Your Life

Custody battles can spiral out of control if you let them. Baby Out of Wedlock helps both parents realize that compromise is always the best way forward.

Michael Schwartz, CFP, AEP, CEO of Magnus Financial Group LLC, and Divorced Father

I have been a licensed psychologist for over twenty-five years specializing in relationship and parenting issues, and I have known Jim and Jessica for over a decade. Their experience is real and their advice is practical. I highly recommend Baby Out of Wedlock to anyone who finds themselves in this situation.

Lenore Perrott, MS, Psychologist

I highly recommend Baby Out of Wedlock for anyone looking for honest, fair, and real-life experience during the stressful time from pregnancy to custody and beyond. It is an excellent resource as it places the childs best interest paramount while working toward the all-important co-parenting relationship.

Patricia A. Cummings, Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical, Maryland Court Certified Parenting Coordinator

Ive known Jim for over twenty years, and I remember when his daughter was born and how hard he had to struggle for parenting rights. His story is real, and his advice comes from experience.

Lisa Benson, Vice President, IMG Models

Jessica made her share of mistakes in the early days, but since then she has clearly figured out how to make her co-parenting relationship successful. Read her book if you want to learn what works.

Olena Zinshtein, Stepparent and Owner of Key Nutrition LLC

A great book that will clearly help anyone in a similar situation. The potential cost alone in navigating the process can be overwhelming, but this guide delivers sound advice and lessons learned. Well written and comprehensive.

Patrick Donohue, US Army Pilot and Father

2021 by BOOW LLC. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of the authors except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

softcover: 978-1-7368168-0-6
ebook: 978-1-7368168-1-3

Editor: Kim Bookless
Book Designer: Diana Russell Design
Publishing Strategist: Holly Brady
Cover photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The events described in this book are based on actual events, but the names and personal details of the people involved, including the authors, have been changed to protect their privacy and their childrens emotional development. Some other minor details have been changed for illustration purposes.

Jim and Jessica Braz are not lawyers. While they have real-life experience in the issues discussed here, they do not give legal advice in this book. Furthermore, child custody laws, child support calculations, and family law, in general, vary from state to state. Be sure to consult an attorney in the appropriate state for your custody litigation.

Jim and Jessica Braz are not doctors. While they have real-life experience in the issues discussed here, they do not give medical advice in this book. Be sure to consult your doctor on your specific medical situation.

Jim and Jessica Braz are not licensed therapists, mediators, or counselors. While they have real-life experience in the issues discussed here, you should consult licensed professionals as needed.

The advice given in this book does not hold Jim and Jessica Braz legally liable for any adverse outcomes you may have from following their advice.

A ccording to research recently posted on the CDC website, nearly 40% of all births in the United States are to unmarried parents. That equals approximately 1,500,000 children born out of wedlock every year . Many of their 3,000,000 parents are worried, confused, and searching for answers. By comparison, there are only about 800,000 divorces in the United States each year.

If you are holding this book, then either you or someone you know has recently found out about an unexpected pregnancy. You are not married to the other parent-to-be, but you are weighing all the possibilities. You may have known the other person for years or barely more than one night. A hundred questions are going through your mind, and you have not slept well since you heard the news. In short, you are freaking out.

Purpose of This Book

The purpose of this book is to help the millions of new or soon-to-be mothers or fathers who are not in a traditional happy marriage. Ideally, you picked up this book the day after you heard the news, but more realistically, its at least partway through the pregnancy or even past the birth. Thats fine; this book will help you navigate nine months of pregnancy and get you through at least the first year of your childs life and then some.

If you are happily married or happily engaged, or even if you just know your partner is the one, then this book is not for you. You will have challenges as all parents do, but this book does not address them. There are lots of other books out there for you.