In St. Louis, child custody cases can be difficult. Often emotions run high as parents try to determine what is best for their children. However, some child custody cases are more easily resolved, such as a case in a nearby state where a man is fighting for visitation rights and custody of a boy he has no legal claim over.

The man is a former prosecutor who married his ex-wife in 2009. At the time, she was also finalizing the adoption of a baby boy. The couple's marriage ended after one year, but in that time the man says he helped raise the little boy. However, before the divorce was finalized, the man never filed the proper paperwork to adopt the little boy.

The man is now asking the court to grant him custody and visitation rights, but it appears he has a difficult battle ahead of him. A court has already ruled that the man has no legal standing to be granted visitation for the now three-year-old boy. The man has now brought the case to an Illinois appeals court.

The three judges presiding over the case have questioned the former prosecutor on his failure to file the right paperwork in order to adopt the little boy. The man says that he did not feel any urgency since he assumed his marriage would last forever. However, the marriage ended rather suddenly. Although the man has presented emotional testimony to the judges, the question remains why they should change the laws for one man.

The couple does share custody of another child that they adopted together.

Although the man has put up a fight, it does not appear optimistic for him. The attorney for his ex-wife says she will never allow him to be named the boy's father.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "3-year-old adoptee at center of unusual custody fight," Steve Schmadeke, Jan. 29, 2012