My ex girl friend says she thinks she's pregnant. She has yet to hear from the doctor as to whether she truly is pregnant, but regardless she told me that she wants to keep me out of her decision as to what she will do if she is pregnant. I told her I wanted to help, but she doesn't want help from me. She doesn't want to talk to me at all. If she has the baby, what are my legal responsibilities? We are both 16 and live in California.

Your legal responsibilities are nothing as long as you terminate all your rights to the baby. If you don't want to do that then you have the normal legal responsibilities as any father. Child support and you have the right to visitation... all the be decided by the courts of course.

You should be afraid of prison. The age of consent in CA is 18. However because there was less then 3 yrs difference its only a misdemeanor.

What your legal responsibilities are, are whatever you and/or the mother want them to be. If she leaves you off the birth certificate, you will have no responsibility unless you ask for it. If you want responsibility you will have to petition a Family Court for it.

The exception here is if she applies for public assistance. Then they will insiste she name the father and they will go after the father for support.

Scott is right. The only exception in this case is Cali grants automatic emancipation to the parents. So if she has the baby and names you as the father on the BC ( birth certificate ) then you will be emancipated too. Being proactive is a good thing but in truth nothing can really be done until the baby is born. So at this stage I wouldn't worry about it until more is know. Has she taken a home pregnancy test yet ? They are pretty accurate.

My friend has the father of her baby terminate all his rights. It can be done without an adoption.

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Originally Posted by hollylovesbrandon

my friend has the father of her baby terminate all his rights. it can be done without an adoption.

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I suspect there are a lot more extenuating circumstances that you are either not relating or unaware of. I can tell you most definitely that getting parental rights terminated is a very difficult thing to do and its only done under specific circumstances.

Never mind. I understand what you are saying. I was confused. I thought you meant that the baby had to be put up for adoption. Now I realize you meant for like, another man to adopt... sorry, I had a blonde moment.

Yes, without the mothers permission the father can not just give up his rights, and even then, in most US states it will not be allowed.
Plus even if they allow the father to give up his rights, he will still have to pay all of his child support till the child is 18.

Also since you had sex with a minor, this is a criminal act and you could face charges in a Juv court

Care for the baby

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Originally Posted by hollylovesbrandon

my friend has the father of her baby terminate all his rights. it can be done without an adoption.

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Please post the State (and any other circumstances that are important) so this can be checked out and future advice will be correct.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Please post the State (and any other circumstances that are important) so this can be checked out and future advice will be correct.

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In case you didn't read the very last line, I said WE are BOTH 16 and live in California.

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Originally Posted by georgesukkar

In case you didn't read the very last line, I said WE are BOTH 16 and live in California.

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Sorry - I didn't. Yes, I see you could be on the line for statutory rape and otherwise, you've gotten your answers.

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Originally Posted by georgesukkar

In case you didn't read the very last line, I said WE are BOTH 16 and live in California.

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And if you had read Judy's note carefully, you would see she wasn't asking you but someone who had posted misleading information about relinquishing rights.

I'm glad, though that you have returned and did read the advice you have receieved. Has the pregnancy been confirmed yet? Also, have you learned to keep it in your pants?