K
KennethB
Guest
Adopting Child In CA soon after Birth because Bio-Dad wants nothing to do with him
I live in Virginia where I have lived for the past 10 Years and have a good paying job, a house, etc. I am engaged to a woman in California who has lived there all her life., Both of us are single, never married. She will be giving birth in a few weeks to a child by her previous boyfriend, Charles. This man has indicated that he would be happy to not be known as the father of the child and have no support obligations or other rights to the child. In fact he has made it quite clear that he wants none of the responsibilities of being this child’s parent. The mother’s relationship with Charles in fact broke up upon getting pregnant specifically because Charles wanted no paternal responsibility for this child. As a result she is contemplating not putting his name on the birth certificate. (Will that really matter?) Charles does not however contest that the child is his. Worse, he has also said he will not consent to an adoption because “Its my kid.” Go figure. I wish to marry the mother and immediately adopt the child. Is there any way to compel Charles to permit this? Is it necessary to first wait some time (how long?) and then go after him for abandonment and get a court ordered adoption? Moreover, after the marriage (to take place in Sacramento, CA), we intend to move to my place in Virginia. Will this be a problem and if so, in what way? Given Charles’ declared attitude towards the child, are we under any obligations to permit visitation or can we get such rights removed? I think Charles may be willing to voluntarily assign sole custody of the child to the mother but perhaps not. (CA state form “Voluntary Relinquishment of Custody Rights?”) He may in fact like the idea of being able to visit this child while otherwise considering himself free of any obligation or responsibility towards him. (We strongly doubt he is going to pay child support unless we attempt to garnish his wages, etc. and he and we know he can still exercise his right to see the child despite the lack of financial support.) Anyway, the bottom line is that we are willing to do whatever is necessary that will ultimately lead to an adoption (Including me possibly moving to CA for a time), the sooner the better, and are looking for some advice on what our approach and plan should be to make the adoption as sure a thing as possible and a soon as possible. As for other weird ideas, would it make any difference is the child were born in VA or we got married in VA? Also, FYI, the child is due in late July and we are currently planning on being wed in late January. Would I have any rights to the child if we were married BEFORE the child was born?
[Edited by KennethB on 06-21-2001 at 11:49 PM]
I live in Virginia where I have lived for the past 10 Years and have a good paying job, a house, etc. I am engaged to a woman in California who has lived there all her life., Both of us are single, never married. She will be giving birth in a few weeks to a child by her previous boyfriend, Charles. This man has indicated that he would be happy to not be known as the father of the child and have no support obligations or other rights to the child. In fact he has made it quite clear that he wants none of the responsibilities of being this child’s parent. The mother’s relationship with Charles in fact broke up upon getting pregnant specifically because Charles wanted no paternal responsibility for this child. As a result she is contemplating not putting his name on the birth certificate. (Will that really matter?) Charles does not however contest that the child is his. Worse, he has also said he will not consent to an adoption because “Its my kid.” Go figure. I wish to marry the mother and immediately adopt the child. Is there any way to compel Charles to permit this? Is it necessary to first wait some time (how long?) and then go after him for abandonment and get a court ordered adoption? Moreover, after the marriage (to take place in Sacramento, CA), we intend to move to my place in Virginia. Will this be a problem and if so, in what way? Given Charles’ declared attitude towards the child, are we under any obligations to permit visitation or can we get such rights removed? I think Charles may be willing to voluntarily assign sole custody of the child to the mother but perhaps not. (CA state form “Voluntary Relinquishment of Custody Rights?”) He may in fact like the idea of being able to visit this child while otherwise considering himself free of any obligation or responsibility towards him. (We strongly doubt he is going to pay child support unless we attempt to garnish his wages, etc. and he and we know he can still exercise his right to see the child despite the lack of financial support.) Anyway, the bottom line is that we are willing to do whatever is necessary that will ultimately lead to an adoption (Including me possibly moving to CA for a time), the sooner the better, and are looking for some advice on what our approach and plan should be to make the adoption as sure a thing as possible and a soon as possible. As for other weird ideas, would it make any difference is the child were born in VA or we got married in VA? Also, FYI, the child is due in late July and we are currently planning on being wed in late January. Would I have any rights to the child if we were married BEFORE the child was born?
[Edited by KennethB on 06-21-2001 at 11:49 PM]