The father of my son has approached a lawyer about terminating his rights to our son. I am not apposed to this, and the lawyer says that the father is willing to pay for the process. I'm just curious to if I need to obtain a lawyer of my own and if there is any court costs that I may be required to pay.

Little bits about about my situation:
1- child born out of wedlock
2- father's name on birth certificate, but son has my( the mother's) last name
3- paternity test was done for child support case, and he is the father
4- father behind on child support
5- I am not married so there is no prospective adopting father at the moment
6- I have offered visitation on grounds that it be supervised to the father
7- father's reason for termination is our strained relationship
8 we all live in the state of Tennessee


Thanks a bunch

Does the child's father understand that he is still obligated to pay child support, even after he relinquishes his parental rights? Or are you willing to waive the child support afterwards? If so, I would definitely recommend the lawyer, just to make certain what you think is going to happen really does happen. I am certain there will be a fee involved.

He's under the impression that he will get out of paying child support, which I have found out the contrary. I have no plans of waiving the child support unless a judge says so, which I doubt will happen.

Yes, first in Tennessee I doubt any judge will even sign off on it, All of the courts ( excecpt a few around Memphis) are very strong pro family and protect the rights of the child. Many courts would want an attorney appointed for the child to protect the child's rights.

I would first not even agree to it at all, If he does not want to use his rights he has no obligation to visit, to come and see the child, he is trying to get out of support which the state of TN will not allow him to do.
There are men sitting in jail in TN tonight for not paying child support, if they could merely give up rights to get out of it, they would have long time ago.

So tell him no, and see an attorney or child support enforcement, if this jerk has the money to pay attorneys for this, he can write the check to you for the child support he is behind.