[jecewy]

My exhusband wants to give up his rights to our children, he has had very sporadic contact with the kids and comes in and out of their lives to a point that they are truly affected by it, I have had to get them counceling to help them through his dissappearance and reapperance. Does anyone know anything about Michigan law to tell me if it is possible, I just don't want my kids to be hurt by him anymore because he is so inconsistent, I know they may still make him pay support but other than that what are the guidelines for him to be able to do this?

[NowWhat]

If he wants to give up his visitation rights - then he probably could. But, as far as monetary support - I don't think so, unless you had someone that wanted to adopt them (new husband, etc.) Is he asking that he not see them and therefore doesn't [I]want[I] to pay child support? If you are going through the court system - you could ask that when he does see them - it be supervised.
If you had to get government assistance and the father wasn't paying support - they would go after him first.

[Fr_Chuck]

Most likely he believes if he gives us his rights he won't have to pay support, my guess once he finds out that is not true, he won't have much desire to give up any rights.

But if he wants to give them up, let him pay for the court and do it.

[jld031899]

I had the same situation and I know laws change from state to state, but in TN, a father can not give up his rights unless you are married and there he is willing to adopt the child and yes this will relenquish his child suport. He will be expected to pay all BACK child suport, but once his name is removed from the birth certificate. He has no rights or responsibilities. If you have no abopting party, he is out of luck, if he says it in court it is probably going to make the judge angry and he will probably be harder on him with child suport and restrict visataion... I am not a professional. Just speaking from experience. Best of luck

[stevetcg]

I had the same situation and I know laws change from state to state, but in TN, a father can not give up his rights unless you are married and there he is willing to adopt the child and yes this will relenquish his child suport. He will be expected to pay all BACK child suport, but once his name is removed from the birth certificate. He has no rights or responsibilities. If you have no abopting party, he is out of luck, if he says it in court it is probably going to make the judge angry and he will probably be harder on him with child suport and restrict visataion...I am not a professional. Just speaking from experiance. best of luck

Aside from the part about being harder on him with child support (this is a formula with little wiggle room) your experience is pretty dead on.

[Synnen]

This thread is TWO YEARS OLD.

I'm betting we've answered this question more recently on AMHD with more up to date legal answers on it.