[bdizzle8-3-06]

Everyone say's even though a father sign's his right's away he is still responsible for child support. My cousin was in this situation and the mother of the child brought him papers for him to sign his rights over. They haven't had contact since and he doesn't pay child support. How is this if the law still makes the father pay? He doesn't have a record and is not unfit.

[cdad]

What exactly are you asking ? The reason for someone not having to pay support is because it never went through the court system. As far as signing his rights away we don't know what rights your referring to. It could be that he signed over to give the custodial parent full physical and legal rights but that still leaves the door open for child support and for the purpose of adoption they will need to be found and permission given.

Was the child adopted out ? If so that would end the legal obligation and no support would be ordered.

[ScottGem]

Let me put it this way. ONLY a court can terminate parental rights. Therefore, if your cousin signed some papers the mother brought him, then its probably not legal. If he's not being required to pay support its because the custodial parent has not applied for support or hasn't enforced the order.

Another possibility is that the child was adopted, which would end his responsibility as well.

Also, state laws differ, some states terminate both rights AND responsibilities, others only rights. But no court is going to terminate rights to let a parent out of their responsibility for support.