How to terminate parental rights?

[ashkyla]

Oklahoma.

I'm wondering what the law is in Oklahoma regarding forcing a parent to sign away their rights.

My daughter is 13 months old, and her father has never seen her, has never attempted to contact me, and pays no support. I don't even think he knows that he has a daughter, honestly, since I haven't spoken to him since before I knew I was having a girl.

My last contact with him was when I was approximately 16 weeks pregnant (June 20,2004) and called him to ask if he wanted to go to the ultrasound. (After giving him a few weeks to get used to the idea that there was going to be a baby.) His exact words were, "I'd rather eat my own flesh."

My main worry is that one day, maybe not this year or the next, but sometime, he will have a crisis of conscience and suddenly decide that he's a Daddy and wants rights to my child, despite the fact that he's been telling people that the baby wasn't his. (Which is just laughable--3 year relationship with him and I never even looked at another guy, much less slept with one, and the guy he thinks is the father is flaming gay.)

I don't have an address or phone number for him, since he has been unemployed for as long as I can remember, and has been staying with friends for as long as I knew him. (Yes, my judgement sucked when I dated him.)

We have several mutual friends, who all have my address and phone number, and who have been told that if he asks them, they can give it to him.

But, honestly, I'm at the point where I just want to rid myself of him completely, and not have to look over my shoulder worrying that he'll suddenly show up demanding visitation rights, etc.

So...what's the length of time required to terminate someone's parental rights?

 

[LdiJ]

Oklahoma.

I'm wondering what the law is in Oklahoma regarding forcing a parent to sign away their rights.

My daughter is 13 months old, and her father has never seen her, has never attempted to contact me, and pays no support. I don't even think he knows that he has a daughter, honestly, since I haven't spoken to him since before I knew I was having a girl.

My last contact with him was when I was approximately 16 weeks pregnant (June 20,2004) and called him to ask if he wanted to go to the ultrasound. (After giving him a few weeks to get used to the idea that there was going to be a baby.) His exact words were, "I'd rather eat my own flesh."

My main worry is that one day, maybe not this year or the next, but sometime, he will have a crisis of conscience and suddenly decide that he's a Daddy and wants rights to my child, despite the fact that he's been telling people that the baby wasn't his. (Which is just laughable--3 year relationship with him and I never even looked at another guy, much less slept with one, and the guy he thinks is the father is flaming gay.)

I don't have an address or phone number for him, since he has been unemployed for as long as I can remember, and has been staying with friends for as long as I knew him. (Yes, my judgement sucked when I dated him.)

We have several mutual friends, who all have my address and phone number, and who have been told that if he asks them, they can give it to him.

But, honestly, I'm at the point where I just want to rid myself of him completely, and not have to look over my shoulder worrying that he'll suddenly show up demanding visitation rights, etc.

So...what's the length of time required to terminate someone's parental rights?

I am not sure what it is for OK. I know that in many states its one full year of no contact. However this is not something that you should attempt without an attorney.

It may not even be possible to do. You can't terminate rights that someone doesn't have......and in many states its required that there be a stepparent willing to adopt the child, so that there is someone taking on the legal responsibility for the child.

 

[VeronicaGia]

Unless paternity has been legally established he has no right to see her. Unless there is a court order for support, he is under no obligation to pay. In other words, without these things, he has not abandoned her because he is not legally her father.

If paternity has never been established, you cannot terminate his rights because he doesn't have any rights to terminate. And if he does have an attack of conscience, he can file to establish paternity, visitation, some form of custody and support.