I need help on a consented termination of parental rights.?

Question

I have a friend who pays $ 256 in child support a week for a child that is definately his. The problem is that the mother refuses to let him see the child and out of 8 yrs he has a collective time of 3 months with this child. Even though I have tried to talk him out of it, he wants to have his own parental rights terminated legally. He told me that his lawyer told him that he can not give up his parental rights without the consent of the mother. I dont think this is true..........anyone who definately knows please help. This is in Tennessee, if that helps.

Answer 1

The attorney is partially right...not only can he not give up responsibilities without consent of the mother, the mother must ALSO find someone who is willing to adopt the child. The court will not terminate a fathers responsibility without someone else being willing to step into the role who is willing to be financially responsible for the child.

That said, your friend can give up his RIGHTS (that is, visitation), but he can not terminate his RESPONSIBILITIES

Answer 2

His attorney is right. He cannot do it without the consent of the mother. Also in some states he has to have the consent and the mother has to have someone who will take over the responsibility of the child.

Answer 3

Giving up his parental rights will NOT absolve him of his parental duties to pay child support. He needs the other parent to sign off anyway.

I am not a lawyer. Get one you trust.

Answer 4

I don't live in Tennesse but my son's biological father wanted to give up his rights and couldn't without my consent. Now I would like him to as I have someone who is a great dad and wants badly to adopt him, so hopefully he will still want to, idk he pretty far back on support, I don't pursue it. So I don't think there is a way. But he can go to court to request regular visitation.