Is this my last resort?

[2boys]

Term of paren. rights/passports

Ohio

Hi, I have tried to look for cases that are similar to mine and have not really found any.
I am an unwed mother of 2 with a very small support system here in the States, my mother lives in England and want my children to know her and my other family so that should anything go wrong with me here, they will be able to look after my children.
Well I tried to get a passport for them and was told that I have to get an agreement from their father.
Their father wants no physical contact with them and has made it very clear that he would rather pay support than be anywhere near them, however he refused to sign for the passport. When I asked him if he would take them if something happened to me, he said no.
I was told by the passport people that I have to get sole custody (even though the state of Ohio already recognizes me as the sole custodial parent).
So now I was told my only choice is to file in juvenile court for a termination of parental rights so that I will be allowed to make decisions for the kids without hinderance.
Is that really my only choice?
Will he be freed from paying support?
And believe me the only reason why he even ended up in the child support system was because I lost my job and had to go on welfare for 6 months while I gave birth otherwise I wouldn't have bothered him any further.

Any help? Thanx.

 

[stealth2]

The only way you can otherwise get passports is via a court order allowing them to be issued.

 

[2boys]

The only way you can otherwise get passports is via a court order allowing them to be issued.

Ah okay.
Oh dear.
I had already filed the papers.
Should I back out of that case then? how do you back out of a court case.
Oh dear.
Although I have moved with my life and am getting married so.....

 

[2boys]

Ohio - Well went to the mediation hearing, he didn't show up. They said they weren't sure he got the letter because they don't think it's his current address.
I informed them that child support has every single last piece of information about him, his driver's license info, etc. I was informed that they do not share information with child support because of privacy laws.

So I fall over and die tomorrow my children will become wards of the state instead of being able to be collected by my family members in England who are willing and able to take care of them, because he certainly doesn't want anything to do with them. The system is ever so fair.

 

[LdiJ]

Ohio - Well went to the mediation hearing, he didn't show up. They said they weren't sure he got the letter because they don't think it's his current address.
I informed them that child support has every single last piece of information about him, his driver's license info, etc. I was informed that they do not share information with child support because of privacy laws.

So I fall over and die tomorrow my children will become wards of the state instead of being able to be collected by my family members in England who are willing and able to take care of them, because he certainly doesn't want anything to do with them. The system is ever so fair.

Its not over yet. There IS a process that can be used to attempt to obtain a passport without the signature of the other parent. An affidavit can be attached to the passport application explaining why you unable to get the father's signature or a court order.

You can explain that you are unable to serve him with court orders because you do not have an address for him and are unable to find one. Its not guaranteed that the passport office will issue a passport based on your affidavit...but they often will.

 

[2boys]

Its not over yet. There IS a process that can be used to attempt to obtain a passport without the signature of the other parent. An affidavit can be attached to the passport application explaining why you unable to get the father's signature or a court order.

You can explain that you are unable to serve him with court orders because you do not have an address for him and are unable to find one. Its not guaranteed that the passport office will issue a passport based on your affidavit...but they often will.

Thank you so much.

I will give your suggestion a try. Anything, just anything at this point help. Thank you.