WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GIVE UP MY PARENTAL RIGHTS?

[lafw]

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GIVE UP MY PARENTAL RIGHTS? THIS CHILD DOES NOT KNOW ME AS HER FATHER SOMEONE ELSE HAS FILLED THOSE SHOES AND I DO NOT WISH TO DIRUPT HER LIFE.

[tbyte]

You cannot give up your parental rights and responsibilities unless someone else is willing and able to adopt your child and assume financial responsibility.

WHAT ABOUT THE MOTHER?

[tbyte]

What about her?

[PapaJohn]

Originally Posted by tbyte You cannot give up your parental rights and responsibilities unless someone else is willing and able to adopt your child and assume financial responsibility.

He did mention someone else has filled the fatherly shoes. However, is this someone else willing to adopt? If so and you are fine with it you can then sign papers relinquishing your rights... However.. and I don't mean to preach here.... but I feel every child has a right to know and be involved with both biological parents.....

Originally Posted by tbyte What about her?

she can not accept full responsibility? she does not want the child around me at all. she is getting married next august and the child knows him as being her father. can i relingish my rights over to her and she can decide if she wants her future husband to adopt?

[tbyte]

No, she cannot accept full responsibility.
It is the State that wants to ensure there is a father who is willing to assume financial responsibility, so that if the mother goes on welfare they can come after you to recoup any State aid she receives.

Originally Posted by Unregistered she does not want the child around me at all.

thats not her choice to make. you can file for visitation, and she will have to comply, or risk being stripped of custody. her future husband is not dad, and never will be unless you agree to let him adopt( and you dont have to, and they cant force you to.)

To rectify, a father can relinquish his parental rights (or rather, he can petition the court to do so) regardless of whether or not another man is in the picture ready to take over the role of father.

Further, regardless of whether or not the mother wants the father around the child, as the poster stated, she cannot dictate that if the father wishes to have a relationship with his child. He can file for custody/visitation and she must comply or be held in contempt of court.

Unfortunately, many men, and apparently the OP included, simply feel it's too much hassle and see relinquishing parental rights as an easy way out of a heart rending mess. This only punishes the child in the long run and does nothing to absolve him of financial support of the child.

Children are not leverage and deserve to have as many people as possible to love and support them. If parents who are split spent half as much time planning to be a positive role model as they do planning on how to screw the other parent, this world would be a much better place.