[facepalmed]

My son recently found out that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant with his child. She has said that she is going to give the child up for adoption. They have a very bad relationship and her mother is refusing to allow any contact or information to be provided about the pregnancy. My son would like to have custody of the child or have us adopt it. Is there any way to ensure we know the status of the pregnancy ongoing and that he will be able to have the child after it is born?

[cdad]

Mostly what he can do depends on what State this is happening in. He can get himself on a fathers registry and that would help or he may have options to file proactively in court. Does he have any proof that she is saying she is going to give the child up for adoption?

[Synnen]

If your state has one, your son needs to get himself on a putative father's list.

You should then retain an attorney on behalf of your son.

The truth is that he SHOULD be able to block an adoption from happening, but it doesn't happen that way all the time.

I would also like to point out that if she is convinced to NOT choose adoption, she could very well decide to keep the child and your son would have to FIGHT for custody.

And just wanting adoption for the child doesn't mean that your son would get automatic custody of the child. The child's mother would have to agree to have you either have custody or adopt the child, and if they have a bad relationship, that's not likely.

I would get an attorney NOW, even though nothing can really happen until the child is born and paternity proven.