View Full Version : Can I regain visitation rights to my child after stepfather adopted her?
teresamedina
Feb 20, 2012, 12:25 AM
I was a good father and paid child support to my baby. When she was 1 1/2yr old, her mother moved to another state(without my knowledge or permission) and married another man. I did not know where my daughter was until I received court papers that the stepfather wanted to adopt her approximately a year later. Over the years, her mother has contacted me, wanting me to be in my child's life. Each time I was allowed back into her life, her mother would soon after no longer allow me to have contact with my child. My daughter is now 14, and last June, her adoptive father told her that I am her real father. She decided she wants me in her life, and wants to be a part of my family. For the last 7 months, I have been making up for lost time with my daughter. One month ago, her mother decided that if we could not reconcile our relationship, then I will not be allowed to see my daughter anymore. I have done eveything I can do except take legal action. Do I have any rights to see my biological daughter?
joypulv
Feb 20, 2012, 03:54 AM
When you signed the adoption papers you signed away your rights. You are now the biological father only, and he is her father, not stepfather. I'm confused about your ex saying 'if you cannot reconcile' - is she on the outs with her husband? If so, depending on what arrangements over custody/visitation he has, you might be able to be with your daughter when she is with him.
ScottGem
Feb 20, 2012, 08:22 AM
Sorry to say this but you messed up. When the mother first moved, what did you do to find her? What the mother did was, in all likelihood, parental kidnapping and you could have had her prosecuted for it.
So when you got the adoption papers, what did you do? Did you sign those papers or did fight for your rights? Sounds like you signed the papers. And by doing so, you relinquished ALL legal rights to the your child. So there is no legal action you can take. This means that any relationship you have with the child is at her parent's sufferance.
The best you can do is put up a Facebook page and "friend" your daughter so you can keep track of each other until she's 18.
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