I’ve been paying child support, but the mother of my child got remarried. I was wondering if I can give up my parental rights and let her husband take over instead. Is there any way to file something like that, or does it require her and her husband to agree?
You’d need her and her husband to agree to an adoption for it to work. Judges rarely terminate parental rights otherwise.
Josie said:
You’d need her and her husband to agree to an adoption for it to work. Judges rarely terminate parental rights otherwise.
So, if they don’t go for adoption, I’m pretty much stuck paying child support?
Josie said:
You’d need her and her husband to agree to an adoption for it to work. Judges rarely terminate parental rights otherwise.
Yep, unless she agrees to stop asking for support, which almost never happens.
Have you talked to her about it? She’d have to agree to start the adoption process with her husband.
Faith said:
Have you talked to her about it? She’d have to agree to start the adoption process with her husband.
We don’t really talk much. Could my lawyer reach out to her on my behalf?
Faith said:
Have you talked to her about it? She’d have to agree to start the adoption process with her husband.
That’s a good idea. Having your lawyer bring it up might make it easier to see if they’d consider it.
If they agree to adopt, would that automatically end your child support obligations?
Xenaida said:
If they agree to adopt, would that automatically end your child support obligations?
Yes, adoption usually ends the biological parent’s legal and financial responsibilities.
Xenaida said:
If they agree to adopt, would that automatically end your child support obligations?
That’s why the judge usually won’t terminate rights unless adoption is in the works.
Why would you want to give up your parental rights though? Just curious.
Jillian said:
Why would you want to give up your parental rights though? Just curious.
I feel like it might be better for everyone if her husband takes over. Plus, we don’t have much of a relationship.
Jillian said:
Why would you want to give up your parental rights though? Just curious.
Fair enough, but it’s worth thinking about the long-term impact on your child too.
Could you file a petition to terminate rights on your own, or does it always require an adoption too?
Zahari said:
Could you file a petition to terminate rights on your own, or does it always require an adoption too?
You could file alone, but without adoption, it’s nearly impossible to get a judge to approve it.
Zahari said:
Could you file a petition to terminate rights on your own, or does it always require an adoption too?
Got it. So basically, adoption is the only realistic way for this to happen.