Hello everyone. Please be advised that I am very hurt by this. I wanted to know if signing over my rights to my 14 year old daughter will allow me contact with her after she is 18, and will I face legal problems if I try to find her at a later tome.

First, what state are you in? Second is there a step parent wanting to adopt?

Once she is 18, she is an adult. Therefore the parental rights are no longer in effect. So yes, once she is 18, you can contact her.

Can I ask why you want to sign over your rights? You do realize that signing over your rights will not stop child support, all it does is takes away your decision making power regarding the health and welfare of your child.

For example: If your daughter were to get a life threatening illness and needed an experimental surgery to save her life, and her custodial parent chose not to have that surgery (i.e. your child would die without the surgery), you are helpless. You cannot intervene and make sure that the surgery was performed to save her life.

That is only one example of many I could give you. Again TPR simply means you give up decision making power, you still are financially responsible.

In addition, to what J_9 said, its unlikley a court will allow you to terminate. Generally, this is done only to clear the way for adoption.

J_9 - I've heard about this relinquishment of rights still requires payment of child support - but never knew how to get it - how does this work? I think that's only a federal law and Texas doesn't have a law like this. Could you site your source for this so I can have a look-see?

Topsalesmom - As glum as it all seems now - please consider that your daughter may not understand why you terminated rights - look for another solution - or give more details here for further opinions. This is a very serious move and you will want to give the notion deep consideration.

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Originally Posted by traceyrco

J_9 - I've heard about this relinquishment of rights still requires payment of child support - but never knew how to get it - how does this work? I think that's only a federal law and Texas doesn't have a law like this. Could you site your source for this so I can have a look-see?

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This is subject to state laws and different state treat it differently, I think its about half and half. A little more than half separate rights and responsibilities so a TPR doesn't terminate support and the rest hold that a TPR severs rights AND responsibilities. I believe Texas falls into the latter.

But because the law treats them together make it even harder to get a TPR. Generally TPRs are granted only to clear the way for an adoption or when the parent represents a danger to the child. A TPR is almost never granted just to stop child support.