Father did not sign adoption papers

[lori729]

I was born in 1970 in Missouri and adopted through Social Services in Missouri. Although the birthmother named the birthfather to the social worker at the time, (and this name is in the files) she listed the father as "unknown" on the original birth certificate. Recently, I found out that the birthfather did not sign the relinquishment papers. The birthfather knew about me and wanted to marry the birthmother, but she refused. My questions are: Can Social Services give me the birthfather's name since he did not sign anything relinquishing his rights? In other words, is there any reason for them to keep his name a secret? and Is my adoption legal?

 

[LegalBeagle]

I was born in 1970 in Missouri and adopted through Social Services in Missouri. Although the birthmother named the birthfather to the social worker at the time, (and this name is in the files) she listed the father as "unknown" on the original birth certificate. Recently, I found out that the birthfather did not sign the relinquishment papers. The birthfather knew about me and wanted to marry the birthmother, but she refused. My questions are: Can Social Services give me the birthfather's name since he did not sign anything relinquishing his rights? In other words, is there any reason for them to keep his name a secret? and Is my adoption legal?

Not all adoptions need the fathers permission. If a court had terminated his rights due to abandonment then he would not have had a say in the matter. You need to take the adoption papers to an attorney for review.