View Full Version : Is a notarized paper giving up parental rights legal?
sharonp
Dec 3, 2009, 01:46 PM
My ex wants to give up his parental rights to our daughter. Neither of us have money for an attorney so we were wondering if it would be legal for him to sign them over by us writing it out and signing and notarizing it?
cdad
Dec 3, 2009, 02:41 PM
Short answer.. no.
Unless someone is going to adopt and take his place he can't just sign his rights away. And you should already be in court for child support.
ScottGem
Dec 3, 2009, 02:52 PM
Only a court can terminate parental rights. So anything he signs would not carry the weight of law.
What is it you are trying to accomplish here?
Fr_Chuck
Dec 3, 2009, 04:13 PM
No not at all, notorised is merely a witness, it would be the same if you just had a couple of people come in and sign that they watched you sign, no special legal status from having that done.
First most states will not even allow you to give up your rights unless adoption is going to happen.
And if he could it will have to go thought he courts.
So the issue here is why does he think he has to? He has no obligation to visit, to call or to ever see the child, so he does not have to ever use a right, so he can just go on his way with not a second thought.
My guess he has some silly idea that if he gives up his rights, he won't owe child support, ( that is not the case either except for adoption)
So sorry this will not work