Hello,

I'm looking for a clear answer to the Termination of Parental Rights. I have read numerous listing online about the issue but none seem to apply to my situation. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about what I'm asking though.

I have never been able to establish a relationship with my child due to my military service. I was married less then 18 months and spent most of that time on deployment overseas. I have been divorced for over a year and have been replaced as a father by my ex-wife's new husband. I am allowed visitation under local rule 27 but have not been able to utilize my visitation to the fullest due to full time work and full time college classes.

My child is 4 years old and has been conditioned not to respond to me as a father, but rather a friend of her mother and step father, or an adult to watch them while their mother and step father are not able to. My child was forbbiden to reffer to me as anything other than by my first name and told that if I am referred to as Dad or Daddy that my child will no longer be allowed to see me. In addition my child was taught that the step father is the real father. Also my child was told not to listen to or obey any of the rules in my home, making it difficult to inforce dicipline.

I don't believe there to be any way to restore or establish a fatherly role in my child's life. What are my options, if any, as a man that has been completely shunned as a father from his child's life?


Thanks very much.

You can go to family court and file for partial custody/visitations and request family counseling.

Never walk away from your child. Fight for he/she until the end. This sounds like the child's mother is being just ignorant, or maybe the stepdad is really insecure with his self and doesn't want you around because he isn't the man that you are. Either way the child is smarter that all of you when it comes down to feelings, and how to rationalize them. Show your child love , call daily, get visitation rights, get weekend visits. That is what a real man would do, and you sound like a good guy for even posting this ad/question. You will regret every last moment of your life if you walk away now. God bless

You can go to court to file for more visitation/physical custody. This way he is with you more and you can establish a relationship. He is only four, it is still possible. I realize you are in a difficult position and if you really want to no longer be a part in your child's life and the step father wants to adopt you can go along with it. However, if you want to be a part of his life then go to court and fight for it.

If you love your son, please fight for the right to see him and be his father. Nothing and no one can take the place of your mother or father if they truly love you. A child can feel if you love them and that gives them security in an otherwise crazy world. If your ex wants her new husband to be a father to your son, nothing says your can't be also.
My ex didn't want anything to do with his boys as he got with someone who had a daughter and they wouldn't have anything to do with my children. It hurt the kids in the long run, as they wondered what was wrong with them that their own father couldn't love them. Pleaase consider what is best for your son and not what is best for your ex.
Good Luck in what ever you decide.

My child is 4 years old and has been conditioned not to respond to me as a father, but rather a friend of her mother and step father, or an adult to watch them while their mother and step father are not able to. My child was forbbiden to reffer to me as anything other than by my first name and told that if I am reffered to as Dad or Daddy that my child will no longer be allowed to see me. In addition my child was taught that the step father is the real father. Also my child was told not to listen to or obey any of the rules in my home, making it difficult to inforce dicipline.
OK-if you can prove it you will have a very good chances to get custody and to sue your ex for parental alienation.

Ok, I will address your actual question, no there is no way for you to merely give up your rights in almost any case, But if you do give up those rights, your child support will still continue So if you don't visit anyway, why does having or not having rights even matter. So I will assume, that your real question is how do you get to stop paying child support. And that will just not happen.

Now if your child's mother will want her new husband to adopt the child, in that case and only that case can you give up your rights and not have to pay child support. So you can ask her if she wants her new husband to adopt, and stop collecting that monthly check.