Legal Question in Family Law in Nevada
termination of parental rights
My husband and I are in the process of having my daughter adopted by my husband. It is a step parent adoption. My ex husband told me he is willing to sign over parental rights. Since my family is on a strict budget, we hired a paralegal to help us with this. We sent my ex papers to sign to terminate his rights the first week of April ( he lives in OR and we have always lived in NV). He has not sent them back yet, and he has not called me in 6 months. I have no ways to contact him besides mail, which he does not respond to. What is my next step? How long will the court wait, or will they just terminate his rights? Do I have to do something else to terminate his rights? Due to the economy I have no extra money to hire a lawyer, and we my husband makes to much money to go through legal aid. Any help is appreciated. Tried to ask the paralegal that was helping me, and she does not have any information on what to do., and does not seem very helpful. I am not sure what do at this point, and was hoping to get this matter settled by my daughter's birthday. This is one thing my daughter really wants done, and she would be happy to find out what she is adopted by her step dad ( the only dad she has know her whole life), by her 13th birthdN
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: termination of parental rights
You need to file a termination of parental rights case. Unless he signs you have no choice. You can go to the self help center to get the forms or use your paralegal.
Re: termination of parental rights
Paralegals are not supposed to be rendering legal advice. They are not licensed to give advice, nor do they have any malpractice insurance in the event they make a mistake.
Many attorneys, like me, do.
If your ex-husband is not keeping his promise to sign a relinquishment of his parental rights and you are re-married and your new husband can financially support her, then the court may grant your petition to terminate her father's parental rights along with a petition for adoption.
Since you say this is a priority to you and your family, perhaps you could borrow the money from friends or family, get a loan or use a credit card to have it done correctly.
Re: termination of parental rights
I do not believe that the Family Court Self Help Center has forms for termination of parental rights, nor do they have petition for adoption forms.
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