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wjtruscott
Jul 26, 2009, 07:33 AM
My daughter just found out that she was pregnant. She wants no contact with the father and the father wants her to get an abortion, which we don't believe in. Is there a document that he can sign waiving all rights to the child?

nikosmom
Jul 26, 2009, 07:38 AM
No, not unless she is married and her spouse will be adopting.

He will be financially responsible for this child until that happens. He can not have a "free pass" just because he's not ready.

He doesn't have to be involved with the child to pay support. She can get the court order without his involvement.

ScottGem
Jul 26, 2009, 07:43 AM
There is a sticky note at the top of this forum and thousands of threads that discuss this.

The answer is no. Only a court can terminate someone's parental rights and generally, courts are very reluctant to do so.

If your daughter can support herself and her child without assistance from the state and the father wants nothing to do with the child, then just don't put him on the birth certificate.

However, if your daughter applies for public assistance, then the state will require that the father be identified and they will go after him for child support. Or, if the father changes his mind, he can go to court for parental rights.

In the future, if your daughter marries and her husband wants to adopt the child, they will have to identify the father and attempt to get him to relinquish his rights.

s_cianci
Jul 26, 2009, 07:47 AM
No. If she does get an abortion, it becomes a moot point anyway. The decision to get an abortion is hers and hers alone, regardless of his paternal intentions. And if she doesn't get an abortion, then he has rights and responsibilities and can't sign any statements to the contrary.