HELLO,

My partner and I recently found out that he might be the father of a little girl. Apparently, she was conceived from a one night stand six years ago. He questioned me on whether he can sign off parental rights if he chose not to be a part of her life. He never met her so he figures it can't do much harm.

No he can't. But if he really didn't know about her then he isn't even the legal father. So he can either go to court to ask for visitations or just wait it out and see if the mother goes to court for support either way the judge will order a DNA test first then make the ruling after the results come back.

Three is no law that requires him to be part of her life, so he just does not call, he does not go visit, he just ignores his child. As long as he makes his child support paymnet I am sure the mother of the child will ignore him also.

If the child's mother has a partner that wishes to adopt the child as their own, then he may sign over his rights and not have to pay child support.

I would assume you as his partner would want him to do what his responibility calls for, since you would expect no less from him also.

So regardless he needs tp prepare mentally for making decisions. Also, accept that he will be responsible for this child if she turns out to be his. Does this sound about right?

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Originally Posted by Ashkia

So regardless he needs tp prepare mentally for making decisions. Also, accept that he will be responsible for this child if she turns out to be his. Does this sound about right?

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Yes, that's right -

Yep you got it.

As noted in the sticky at the top of this forum and in hundreds of other threads on this issue, getting a TPR is very difficult. Generally they are granted only to clear the way for adoption or where the parent is a danger to the child.

So if a paternity test shows he's the father, then he will be responsble for support. He can choose not be a part of the child's life, but he'll still have to pay support. He might even be able to get a TPR, depending on what state he's in, but if he does, then it would not affect support.