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View Full Version : Adoptive father wants to give up rights


nevaeh12
Jan 13, 2010, 04:00 PM
We are adoptive parents of 3 small children. My husband walked out on us and moved in with his 21 yr old co worker, He has not provided any money to help with the kids since he left us he was our only income we had except the money the state gives for special needs children which is used for their health issues. All 3 children are adopted. We have been married 9 yrs and lived together 10 1/2 yrs. Now my husband wants to file joint bankruptsy and force me into giving back the only car we owned as he now drives his new girlfriends car and he doesn't want to be responsible if I fail to make payment. He also wants to terminate all rights to the kids and not have to pay any child support, He lost his job in October and gets 1100 every 2 weeks but has not given us any money. My question is. Is the law different for adopted children and termination of parental rights in the state of Colorado? If he's able to do this this leaves me as a single parent with cancer of 3 small under the age of 5 children

JudyKayTee
Jan 13, 2010, 04:02 PM
He's the legal parent. He can't just walk out, renounce his rights/obligations/duties.

I trust you have consulted with an Attorney. If not, RUN to an Attorney.

nevaeh12
Jan 13, 2010, 04:07 PM
I don't have any money for a attorney and have tried to get a pro bono but there are none avail for me as apparently there are very few. I am now pretty much homeless with 3 little children living with friends and family and no one has any money for a attorney So I don't know what to do or where to turn to

Synnen
Jan 13, 2010, 04:08 PM
There is absolutely NO difference legally whether the child is adopted or biological.

He is responsible for those children, and there is no court in this country that is going to let relinquish his parental rights--ESPECIALLY if it's just to get out of child support.

Get a lawyer, if you don't have one already. You REALLY can't afford to NOT have one.

Synnen
Jan 13, 2010, 04:12 PM
Contact legal aid in your state.

Contact Lutheran Social Services and/or Catholic Social Services--you don't have to be a member of their faith for them to help you.

Call every lawyer in your phone book and explain your situation, and ask if they'll work with you for a payment plan--some lawyers do.

Ask your doctor for a referral to agencies that can help you.

Ask your clergyperson if he/she knows of anyone in the church that can help you.

There are ways to get help--sometimes you just have to look past the obvious.

And if you think you can't afford a lawyer, you're wrong.

You can't afford NOT having a lawyer.

JudyKayTee
Jan 13, 2010, 04:21 PM
I dont have any money for a attorney and have tried to get a pro bono but there are none avail for me as apparently there are very few. I am now pretty much homeless with 3 little children living with friends and family and no one has any money for a attorney So I dont know what to do or where to turn to


Cal your local Bar (Attorney) Association. They have a list of Attorneys who will work without fees.

Call - as Synnen suggested - every other agency you can think of, including the United Way.

If no one cares what happens to you they WILL care about your children - a sad fact of life.

nevaeh12
Jan 13, 2010, 04:28 PM
Thank you I just wanted to make sure he couldn't do this as he seems to think he can just walk away from the kids and everything and live his life and leave me to deal with everything else. Ive called the bar association and the denver law legal stuff but the only thing Ive found was a clinic on how to file your papers for free AND help filling them out.Since July I have called every attorney in Denver 1/2 of them won't speak to me because he called them 1st and it's a conflict of interest in case he hires one of them I will check with the other places Synnen suggested. Ive even contacted adoption exchange for help but so far no luck

ScottGem
Jan 13, 2010, 04:30 PM
Another place to look is local law schools. They often have clinics to help. If he's going to get a lawyer you ABSOLUTELY need one.