What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? South Dakota, however I should mention that the mother and child reside in California.
My question and/or story is as follows. Six years ago, I met a girl, we hit it off things were great, got hot and heavy and made some irresponsible decisions. The relationship was short-lived to say the least. She ran off to another state with another man. A few months later I was served with papers in regards to a paternity hearing. My daughters mother was by this point in California, and my child was born. Paternity was established and I started to pay child support. I have had little to no contact with the mother, or my child, nor does she care to have contact with me or to have me in contact with our child. Financial situations and bad feelings on both sides have kept any relationship I may have had with my child from happening. Two days ago I was contacted by the mother via the facebook social network where she had done a search on my name to find me. In her "message" she requested that I agree to sign papers relinquishing my parental rights of my child to her completely. She didn't state why nor did I ask. After some careful thought I decided to oblige. As I've stated I've never seen my child and I don't see the situation ever being reconciled in any way. I believe that this is probably the best thing. I sent her a message back telling her I would sign any such papers. Today she contacted me again and stated that she was informed she could not file the papers unless she was married, or hired a lawyer to fight her case. I'm wondering if this is true, and also wondering if what she suggested initially is even possible as I've seen that many states will not grant termination of rights solely because both parents agree on such a matter.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
My question and/or story is as follows. Six years ago, I met a girl, we hit it off things were great, got hot and heavy and made some irresponsible decisions. The relationship was short-lived to say the least. She ran off to another state with another man. A few months later I was served with papers in regards to a paternity hearing. My daughters mother was by this point in California, and my child was born. Paternity was established and I started to pay child support. I have had little to no contact with the mother, or my child, nor does she care to have contact with me or to have me in contact with our child. Financial situations and bad feelings on both sides have kept any relationship I may have had with my child from happening. Two days ago I was contacted by the mother via the facebook social network where she had done a search on my name to find me. In her "message" she requested that I agree to sign papers relinquishing my parental rights of my child to her completely. She didn't state why nor did I ask. After some careful thought I decided to oblige. As I've stated I've never seen my child and I don't see the situation ever being reconciled in any way. I believe that this is probably the best thing. I sent her a message back telling her I would sign any such papers. Today she contacted me again and stated that she was informed she could not file the papers unless she was married, or hired a lawyer to fight her case. I'm wondering if this is true, and also wondering if what she suggested initially is even possible as I've seen that many states will not grant termination of rights solely because both parents agree on such a matter.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?