Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland
Confusing case....need some advice.
My boyfriend has fathered a child. He was 19 or 20 at the time and his girlfriend was under 18. He doesn't know much about the law. At the time, the girl's parents were threatening to throw him in jail for statutory rape. With that threat, they were able to convince him to sign over his rights, and they also convinced the mother to give the child up for adoption. My boyfriend recently saw the mother, and asked her about his daughter. She showed him pictures and informed him that she goes to visit her also. After seeing the pictures, and knowing that the mother can see her daughter and he can't, he was very upset and didn't think it was fair. He wants custody. I'm not sure what he can do, if anything at this point. My boyfriend is very upset about it and is questioning if there was anything he could have done to stop the adoption. He is asking for help to at least find out if there is anything he can do. He is now 22, and the child is almost 2 I believe.
Can someone help me and let me know what, if anything, he can do. If not custody, can he recieve visitation of any kind?
Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Confusing case....need some advice.
Once your boyfriend signed over his rights, he lost the ability to control or be involved in the child's future. On the other hand, perhaps the adoptive parents would consider allowing him to see the child, since they do so for the mother. He should find out how to get in touch with them and write them a polite letter. But don't be surprised if they refuse. It must be very confusing for a young child who thinks of his adoptive parents as his parents to now be confronted with another person who also is identified as his father. But it's worth trying.
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