Legal Question in Family Law in Arkansas

Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights, What's next?

Hi there. My son was born in April 99. At the time, his natural father and I were engaged. He was serving in the US Navy and was statioined in Virginia. My son was several months old and his natural father had shown no interest in seeing his child. He has NEVER seen him and he is now 3 years old. After 1 year I started recieving child support (not court ordered), which has just recently stopped. In Nov 2000 I was married. My son knows my husband as daddy and is wanting to adopt him. I was recently able to get in touch with the natural father and he has said that he will sign a letter stating that he is willing to relinquish all of his parental rights. He received the letter in the mail just this week and is supposed to sign and return to me. Once this is done, what is my next step if I'm going pro se on this???? Thanks in advance for your prompt reply. I look forward to hearing from you.


Asked on 4/12/02, 12:35 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Butch Hale Hale and Young

Re: Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights, What's next?

Was paternity ever established in Navy man? Under Arkansas law if it wasn't you may not have to give him notice of the adoption. It is better to do so to cover all bases, especially when he will consent.

File a petition for adoption and send the sailor a consent form along with the petition. You must follow legal process to have him served with both. Once signed, contact the court for a hearing and present your petition.

Good luck. If you should decide to use our firm the fee is $750.00 which covers the court cost.

Butch

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Answered on 4/12/02, 2:36 pm


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