Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

Child Support/Parental Rights Termination

My husband has been divorced since 1992, with joint custody of his 14 y/o daughter. His ex-wife has poisoned her against him. His daughter refused to visit starting 5 years ago & will not see/talk to him. 4 years ago, the situation was diagnosed as parental alienation syndrome on the ex's part. He has paid child support, but she wants nothing to do with him. She changed her last name to her stepfather's. Is there any way that he can terminate his parental rights if the daughter says she wants him out of her life? The ex-wife has stated that the stepfather offered to adopt his daughter, but the ex will never give up support. The daughter says she doesn't want him to have her grades, pictures, etc, wants never to see/hear from him ever. If she is old enough to tell a court that she wants her name changed(w/o his consent)can't she tell court her wishes and have parental rights terminated/child support stopped? It doesn't seem fair that my husband can't see a child and pay child support for half of her life at the child's request.We tried to fight this in court 4 yrs ago, but the ex & child wouldn't do anything the court ordered. My husband isn't even sure the child is his. How can we stop the child support?


Asked on 8/08/03, 10:32 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mary McDonagh McDonagh-Faherty Law Offices

Re: Child Support/Parental Rights Termination

If she is being adopted by another man, then the support can be stopped. My concern is that he does not want to enforce the order. It does not take but one page of a motion to go back into court and enforce the original order.

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Answered on 8/08/03, 11:33 am


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