Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania
father not named
Hello,
The father of my child was informed he was the father before she was born. He said he didn't want the baby and asked me to have an abortion. I refused. I notified him when she was born. He never came to see her. I asked hiim several times if he wanted to see her over the first few months. He always refused. I have not heard from him in nearly 8 months. My daugther will be one in two weeks.
Since he wanted me to have an abortion and never saw her or helped in any way I did not name him as the father on the birth certificate.
My future husband wants to adopt my daugther. What will we need to do since no father was named and the father does not have any contact with us or provide a forwarding address?
I read somewhere that when two people are unmarried the baby has no legal tie to the father until paternity is estbalished.
what will have to be done for my fiance to adopt her since my ex is no where to be found?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: father not named
You asked about adoption where the biological father is not able to be located.
First, congratulations on finding a person to join your lives.
You will most definitely need legal assistance with th adoption process where one biological parent is unavailable. It's not a difficult process but you must demonstrate to the Court that the biological father has either purposefully or through default abandoned his rights.
Two suggestions if I may. First, create and maintain a health and family record of the child's biological paternal family. This could be important later in life to provide for health care and many other purposes. Also, eventually, the child may wish to connect with that side of her family. You don't have to promote it, but you should make it as easy as you can for her if she ever chooses that road.
Second, is that you should consider seeking child support payments. Whether or not a child is adopted by another that child may have rights to support payments from the biological parent. Also, it makes a very good bargaining chip in the negotiations for relinquishing parental rights.
Congratulations and good luck.
Regards,
Roger
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