[Heather02287]

I am 11 weeks pregnant and the father of my child and I are not together because whenever I told him I was pregnant he wanted me to get an abortion and I told him no. Now he doesn't want to be with me and he is telling everyone he is going to sign over his rights whenever the baby is born. I have a son that's 10 months old already that is not his. He has a daughter that him and his mom has joint custody of because the mom of his daughter is in prison for two years. I do not want him to sign over his rights to our child. Its takes 2 people to make a baby so why should he be able to get off not helping? Please help me. :confused:

[J_9]

Signing over his rights only releases him of decision making power regarding the health and welfare of the child. It does NOT relieve him of financial obligations. He will still have to pay child support.

[jverner]

No. It will require a court proceeding for him to terminate his parental rights, and often judges see no benefit to it because it deprives a child of child support.

[1badchoice]

In these cases... the rights of the CHILD are the ones at issue. The child's right to be protected, cared for (at least financially) by both parents. That does not mean a parent will take the responsibility of caring for, making parental decisions, etc... These can be given up. The term giving up rights... is just that... his right to visit child, decide child's education, medical,etc. He cannot give up responsibilities now. He should have thought of that when he had unprotected sex. Don't worry about his comments. You have a long time before the baby comes and emotions often cool. As well, things change. Take heart, the baby's rights will be protected. Cathy