[rayni2day]

My daughter is 17 and recently found out she was pregnant, the father, also 17, offered to pay for an abortion, but my daughter said absolutely not. Now is he wanting to sign rights away because he wants nothing to do with this child. Her father and I are prepared to support her 100%, financially and emotionally. So , my question is, what does she need to do to in order for him to sign away his rights? And, what do we , as the child's grandparents, need to do?

[ScottGem]

First she can do nothing to have him sign his rights over because he can't do that. I've moved this from the Children forum because this is a question on law. This forum has a sticky note about signing rights over and HUNDREDS of similar posts. You might want to browse around this forum.

There is this myth that a parent can simply agree to relinquish parental rights. I don't have a clue where it started. But only a court can terminate parental rights and courts are very reluctant to do so. Also ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

On the other hand since they are not married, he will have no rights unless he tries to pursue such rights. If your daughter will not need any financial support or public assistance, then he can be left out of the picture until and unless he chooses to insert himself.

[Fr_Chuck]

The 17 year old boy can not "sign over his rights" There would not be 10,000 men sitting in jail today for failure to pay child support if it was that easy.

If in latter years, she gets married, and that man wants to adopt, he can sign away his rights to allow the adoption.

And he may decide in a few years when he matures, that he wants contact and will decide to get involved in it.

Next no idea what you mean by "grandparents" his parents or your parents.. In many states yes his parents will have the right to visit their grandchild. ( as her parents and also now the child's grandparents, I would know that you would not wish to stop them from seeing their grandchild)

She can do nothing at this point and not list him on the birth certificate and wait to see if the boy is going to take any legal action latter to have something to do with child.

If as Scott mentioned, if the child or the child's mother gets any public assistance, then the state may wish to go after the child's father for support.

[JuneBug1985]

He may not be able to sign away his rights but if he is not present then his name can be left off the birth certificate (in Oklahoma and Colorado I know for sure) I wanted my sons father on the certificate but because he was not present (he died 2 months earlier) they would not have his name added.

[AK lawyer]

Being left iff the bc does not remove any rights

Ah, but in Junebug's son's case, being dead does, evidenly.