I live in fla and need to know how to go about having my children's father who is willing to give up his rights to his children done. He is very abusive both verbally, emotionally, and physically to me and my other children. He is a drug addict and a alcoholic. He does provide child support by court order and I want nothing to do with it anymore. He feels that since he pays he can do what ever he wants and treat us as though we are garbage. I have sole custody of the children. I do not want him in our lives anymore.

You need to understand that by terminating his rights, he will still be lliable for child support. It is court ordered and the court is not likely to reverse it's decision. You can go and talk to an attorney about this.

About the abuse - have you gotten a protection order? Is his visitation of the children supervised? Talk to an attorney and get your rights in order and those of your children.

Do you have a new partner who is willing to adopt ?

If so great, but he can give up his rights, but will still have to pay his child support. If he is a danger to the children, and you can prove this he can lose his visits or at best they will be supervised.
And it is not your money anyway, it is the children's money and they deserve it.

It is my opinion from what I have read and experienced, that at least in the state of West Virginia, that the best course of action is through Child Protective Services. This ensures the protection of the children as well as yourself. The State would present evidence against him, and ask the Court to take appropriate action against him. In this approach he would have no choice in rights, visitation, or child support. He also would not be able to hold you responsible for what happens, it was the action of the State. Also, if his rights and or visitation are not effected at the time, you would have evidence of a pattern of behavior for future use. You could present the Child Protective Services report at a future hearing against him. I hope that this helps you in your quest, and best of luck in whatever course you take.

It is my opinion from what I have read and experienced, that at least in the state of West Virginia, that the best course of action is through Child Protective Services. This ensures the protection of the children as well as your self. The State would present evidence against him, and ask the Court to take appropriate action against him. In this approach he would have no choice in rights, visitation, or child support. He also would not be able to hold you responsible for what happens, it was the action of the State. Also, if his rights and or visitation are not effected at the time, you would have evidence of a pattern of behavior for future use. You could present the Child Protective Services report at a future hearing against him. I hope that this helps you in your quest, and best of luck in whatever course you take.


I don't know that it matters much but this post is from December 2007 and poster has never been back -