How can someone relinquish their rights without an attorney? I have filed for a modification to my child support and we have a court date for that but he has decided he wants to relinquish rights. I have my husband now who wants to adopt her if my ex-husband relinquished rights. How can we do that?

I adopted my daughter when she was about 6 yrs old, she was my wife's first and only child from her first marriage, the state I live in required the father to consent to the adoption, in other words, relinquish all his parental rights to the child, in return my wife and agreed not to pursue him for approx $20,000.00 back child support payments. Sounds similar to my situation except I had my lawyer ask the father to sign away his rights. In your case, he is offering to give up his rights.

He is willing so that he doesn't have to pay child support. We were wanting to know if we could get papers from the court house and do it on our own. I just wanted to do it quickly while he is willing to do that. Do you know if there are such forms?

It actually works in reverse of what you've suggested; your husband petitions the court to adopt your child and your ex is asked to sign his consent (which, apparently, he would do.) That relieves hm from the responsibility of future child support payments, though he may have to pay arrearages if any are due.

He is willing so that he doesn't have to pay child support. We were wanting to know if we could get papers from the court house and do it on our own. I just wanted to do it quickly while he is willing to do that. Do you know if there are such forms?

You can probably download them from the webiste for your state's court system or get them from the court clerk's office.

My opinion is for you to hire an attorney, we are not talking about buying a piece of real estate but even then it's my opionion you should hire or at least consult an attorney. By the way, I am not an attorney so that you know I have no agenda except yours, the father's and the child's best interest.