Parental obligation of young adults

[Stephen Hodgdon]

What is the name of your state? New Hampshire

My 21-year old daughter is pregnant stemming from a brief relationship with a young man in college. She has decided to have the baby, and she has recently moved back home with us. The young man and his parents have said they want nothing to do with the baby for fear of it interfering with his college and career plans. My daughter has accepted their decision.

My question is two-fold:

1) Even though the father has opted out of his parental responsibility -- and we have consented -- doesn't he still have some financial responsibility?

2) How does one go about making his decision to not be part of the child's life legally "official?"

Thanks you

 

[bambi66]

If it were me, as soon as the baby is born, go to the court house and file for child support. This will cause a paternity test to be ordered. When he is proven to be the father, child support will be ordered. He can NOT "opt" out of the childs life.

 

[knorris]

Bambi Is right

I'm glad your daughter has her family to support her, bambi is exactley right. one cannot not opt out on the responsipilty of a child they helped create. I am not sure about were you live but some in states you can even get the process rolling before the child is born. your daughter will have to ask for paternity to be established and once that is done and proves this guy is the father then she can seek a child support order that he will have to follow, even if he and his family wish no envolvment with the child he will still be held finacially responsible for his part in the raising of the child, I am a supporter of both parents rights to a relationship with their child but in cases like this you can't force someone to have the relationship and from the sounds of it the child will be better off not known a dad that doesn't want he/she, anyone can be a father, it takes someone special to be a dad. though bio-father doesn't want it someone will have love for this child. god bless you and your daughter and the baby on the way.

 

[dorenephilpot]

Your daughter would file a petition to establish paternity in the county where the father of the child lives.

Paternity can be established either by agreement, which the judge would then also sign off on as a court-ordered finding of paternity, OR by a DNA test, if one or the other of the parents contests it.

Once paternity is established, the court WILL order child support and make determinations as to custody and visitation.

He can choose to opt out of any custody for visitation options, but he's on the hook financially until the child is emancipated.

Hope this helps answer your questions.

 

[Stephen Hodgdon]

Thank you everyone for sharing your insight and advice. It is extremely helpful.
- Steve