ok well i've made my decision....i've thought long and hard for obviously a really long time and now have decided to go ahead and terminate my rights as my daughters father. the main reason for me doing this is yes she will have better medical care and now i have seen how happy she looks with her new dad and i can see that he loves her and she loves him and all i really want for my daughter is for her to be happy. it hurts to say it cause i am her father and would love to be in her life but i don't know where she is now and i probably won't see her ever again. so now my question is how can i terminate my rights as her father without having to pay attorney fees? i would like to do this without having to pay a lot of money cause well i just don't have money for an attorney

GV70

Hi,goodkat!
You cannot terminate your rights if your daughter's step father is not willing to adopt her neither with an attorney nor without an attorney...If he is willing to adopt your daughter it will be easy-you have to sign over your rights/ notarized / and to allow him to do it...or you can go to court when adoption is starting ...that's all.

ScottGem

A very clear summation. This is the way I understanod it (after further research and your explanations). The Texas statutes I browsed were voluminuous. I don't think anyone can look at a single statute in such a large number and say its definitive. Also, the Texas statute in question is one of a series that deals only with TPR. There is a whole other section that deals with child support.

What I think it all boils down to is best interests of the child. And its the courts function to make that determination.

GV70

many do that.
Neither courts nor legislators are interested in who pays...they are interested in someone to pay and it is s.c. Public Policy.The involuntary termination or voluntary relinquishment of parental rights are allowed to transfer of rights and obligations from a parent to the new one and /if the parents are criminals/ the goal of TPR is the child to be legally free with hope someone to adopt him/her...that is to say TO TRANSFER parental rights and obligations....

Mary Surette

Scott person, I'm glad you agree with the Texas Family Code. Yes, termination of parental rights -- voluntary termination is possible in Texas and divestment (duties for child support) is possible for one who seeks it.

Fr_Chuck

I guess in the end, to answer the orginal question, there is really no cheap way to end your rights. It will invovle attorneys and alot of legal work and most likely several court visits.

ScottGem

I've never disagreed with the Texas code. While it may be possible, its not probable. While the code allows it it also makes it extremely difficult.