How can I sign away the parental rights of my child?

Question

I went to Florida last summer for vacation. I met a girl at a party where we were both drinking heavily. We ended up having intercourse in the bathroom of the house of the party. I had only known the girl for a maximum of 6 hours. She called me a month later telling me that she was pregnant. She decided to have the child and she now wants me to pay child support. I would like to just sign away my rights. She is the one who chose to have the child and I frankly was black out drunk on the night that we hooked up and I don't even remember the act of conceiving the child. I'm a 20 yr old college dropout that delivers pizza part-time. I don't want my life to be ruined because of a night I don't remember. I live in Pennsylvania. Pleas give me any advice you can!

Answer 1

Not an attorney, but here goes. GET A DNA TEST!

You can't sign away your responsibilities. You are the child's father. That said, perhaps the girl will find another guy who wants to be the father. In that case, you may be asked though a court action to give up your rights. (He would adopt the child...)

You will be required to step up to the plate and contribute financially - the courts/government will make sure of that. (Better think about working full-time - in Indiana if you are capable of full-time minimum wage work, then when figuring child support, the courts will impute that amount of wage to you even if you are only working part-time).

I'm sure a paternity action will be filed against you in the state where Mommy lives and/or the baby is born and you may be required to attend a Court hearing or two there. Before you sign anything or agree to anything, you should have an attorney. Paternity and child support issues will follow you for at least the next 18 years. Get an attorney now and save yourself some expensive mistakes....

Since you are going to pay child support anyway, why not try being a part of your child's life? You may find an incredible experience that will make you not want to be a '20 yr old dropout'.

GOOD LUCK.

Answer 2

I am not going to do what some others have done and preach to you. I am sure you realize all the same things that the others are saying. Now, you have to petition for a DNA test to be done to be sure you are in fact the father. You have no way of knowing if you were the only one that she had sex with that week. If it is determined you are the father then you are on the hook for the child support. You cannot just decide that you don't want to take responsibility. You made a mistake and the consequences may cost you plenty.

I understand what you are saying, but remember that the baby is innocent in all of this. Sometimes it doesn't seem right that the girl can decide to keep or give up a baby without the father having any say, but that is the way it is. She was the one who will be responsible for the day to day care in raising the child.

So, again, first thing you want to do is make sure that you are the father, before you do anything else. You can petition the court for the test to be done. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

You need to consult an attorney. You can't just "sign away" a child support obligation. It is critical for you to obtain quality legal advice immediately, because you are looking at the possibility of 18 years of expensive child support payments.

However.....my first reaction would be: How does she know you are the father? If she is that quick to have sex with someone she has known for only 6 hours, how many others has she had sex with? DNA testing can establish paternity, and in fact if you obtain an attorney and fight this, the court may very well order DNA testing. DNA testing can conclusively establish fatherhood beyond any reasonable doubt.

Take the responsible step and consult an attorney. Your actions in this matter so far (including your question, above) don't show much responsibility. Time to be a man and face reality. Make the call --- pick up the phone and schedule an appointment with a qualified attorney.

And next time you choose to have casual sex, use a condom.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How can I sign away the parental rights of my child?
I went to Florida last summer for vacation. I met a girl at a party where we were both drinking heavily. We ended up having intercourse in the bathroom of the house of the party. I had only known the girl for a maximum of 6 hours. She called me a month later telling me that she was pregnant. She...

Answer 5

I'm all for a "poke and pay law". If you poke you pay. Shame on you and you should pay child support. Isn't it just like a male to walk away from responsibility? What makes you think she might not want to walk away sometimes too? If you didn't want your life to be ruined, then you should have worn a condom or you should simply have abstained. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can demand a paternity test to see if the child is yours. Other than that, I think everyone who screwed her should have an equal share in the child support, regardless of whether or not he is the father. Maybe it will cause some men to think and keep it in their pants. You didn't mind contributing to the ruination of her life!

Answer 6

First get dna done to see if it is his child. If not then no problem. If it is his child he can sign away his parental rights, but that does not get him out of child support. He will have to pay.

Answer 7

Well, you can sign away your rights. But you know what? You will still have to pay child support for the kid.
Grow a set and become a man.
Im raising two girls now. One is mine, the other is my wifes from another relationship. I have no problem at all raising that girl as my own-even though shes not. Her dad was a dirtball who ditched out on the picture when she was first born, but im man enough to step into the picture and be a father for the child.
Maybe thats what separates the men from the boys.

Answer 8

Dude - if your in Pennsylvania be thanking God right now that Florida has jurisdiction over that baby because Pennsylvania is wicked about child support.

Here's the bottom line scooter:
Baby = yours
Your = you pay
Your rights = can be signed over, but your still likely to be on the hook for child support. (Your rights and the rights of that child to be supported properly are two different things.)

If you are not responsible enough to use your penis appropriately this is the kind of thing that happens, and now you have a child to take care of the next 18 years - time to grow up, get a second job, and might I suggest a little less alcohol and some super glue on your zipper next time.

Oh, and you will probably "violate" me for this - but here goes.......you self-centered little snot! It's time for you to grow up - that baby did not ask to come into this world, and you are one half the reason that child is here! Grow up! You think your life is ruined? Well imagine that poor kid who is going to grow up without a father in his or her life because you can't handle that fact that you got down with the Mamma at a party. Welcome to adulthood - and be thankful you ain't my kid because I'd slap up ya side the head and tell you that you have responsibilities now to take care of and it's time to step up to the plate.

Answer 9

Have you considered finding out if you are the father for sure? If it turns out you're not, there are no parental rights to sign off on.

If you are the biological father and the child has been born, you can contact Legal Aid, since you probably qualify financially, and ask how to file papers in court.

Answer 10

Your first screwup was in
A. Using your real name
B. giving her your phone number

Get a lawyer and tell them you want to give up parental rights. You do know however that if the girl and the state want child support, you still have to pay, you do know this. I see at least 1 or 2 cases a week like this.