<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by newmom:
First of all, I believe she CAN decide on an abortion (this may depend on your state, but usuall at 17 a child is "of age").
Second, as for the rights of the father to the unborn child - what rights are you referring to?? No, he doesn't have the right to tell her she CAN'T have an abortion or to tell her she HAS to have one.
Once the child is born, however, the two then have equal right to the child (no adoption can happen without both signatures), and even if she does not put his name on the birth certificate (if he is interested in the child at all) he can request a paternity test to determine if he is indeed the father and then have his name included on the BC and then comes all the custody and child support/visitation orders or "agreements" if they decided to do it that way. However, I don't suggest (and I don't think you'll find anyone on this board who DOES suggest) doing this on your own. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS COURT ORDERED if she decideds to have and keep this child. This way it's ordered by a court and the only way to change any of it is to go back to court and have the order changed.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>