Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri

A parent may attempt to "sign away their" rights to a child, but it does not prevent them from being financially responsible for the child, until it is adopted. These type of arrangments have soem value in keeping an understanding about custody and care between teh parents. but does not prevent a child support order from being issued.

Good luck

If you are the mother of a girl who has given birth to a child without the benefits of matrimony, then, you definitely need to consult wtih an attorney. If your daughter is a minor, then you may Petition the Court to act as her Next Friend for the purpose of filing a Petition to Determine Paternity. In that case you would obtain a Judgment finding the 17 year old boy to be the legal father and ordering him to pay child support together possibly with "necessaries" which refer to the cost of having the child. If he hires an attorney, they may possibly obtain some rights concerning custody of the child, but from your post the 17 year old boy doesn't seem to want them. My advice woudl be to hire an attorney.