[ambersue1616]

My sons father and I decided that it would be in the best interest of the child of he just signs his rights over... but what is the next step that we take?

[adthern]

When you say he signed over his rights, what exactly do you mean? Did you both go to court and did the judge terminate his parental rights? It sounds more like this is an informal agreement between the two of you, in that case, the agreement really doesn't hold any weight. As far as what do you do next, what is it that you want to do? Is there someone who is waiting to adopt the child?

[Synnen]

1. You get married
2. You get a lawyer
3. You stay married for at least a year
4. You get the biological father to be willing to relinquish rights
5. Your new husband must be willing to adopt
6. You go to court to have the biological father relinquish and the step-father adopt.

[Fr_Chuck]

I am sorry, first it is not normally in best interest of the child, it is in the best interest of the father for not having to pay child support, and the mother believes she does not have to share the child.

But the court is not going to just let him sign over his rights, ( only for adoption by a new partner)
You can file for full custoey, and he can not ask for visits and merely pay his child support

[ScottGem]

but what is the next step that we take?

The next step is to consult an attorney who can explain the realities of the law to you. Or you could have browsed around this site first and found this sticky: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/family...st-116098.html or read any of the thousands of threads on this same issue on this site.

There is this myth that a parent can just sign over their rights. Sorry but only a court can terminate rights and courts will only do so in a limited set of circumstances.

I am curious, however, what makes you think it would be in your child's best interests to have his father abandon him?