Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Re: relinquishing parental rights of child

You can file a petition to terminate parental rights; however, the parental obligation to pay child support will not be extinguished. The Tennessee legislature even when so far as to pass a law that states terminating parental rights does not eliminate the obligation to pay child support.

However, in two cases, I have been able to negotiate a deal in which the biological mother agreed not to pursue child support on behalf of her child against the biological father in exchange for the father agreeing not to contest the adoption of the child by another man.

So if someone wants to adopt your child, and you choose not to contest the adoption, then you will have bargaining power to end your child support obligation.

http://michaelguth.com/prose.htm

Re: relinquishing parental rights of child

IF YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU ARE THE FATHER, YOU CANNOT AVOID A PARENTAGE ACTION AGAINST YOU. YOU CANNOT SURRENDER YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS TO ANY CHILD, PARTICULARLY AN UNBORN ONE. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, THEN EVERY MAN IN AMERICA WOULD PROBABLY DO IT. THE ONLY WAY YOU MAY ESCAPE ANY LIABILITY IS IF THERE IS ANOTHER MAN IN THE WOMAN'S LIFE WHO IS WILLING TO STEP INTO YOUR SHOES AND BE NAMED AS THE FATHER. OR, IF THE WOMAN SIMPLY NAMES ANOTHER MAN AS THE FATHER ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, OR IF THE WOMAN IS PRESENTLY MARRIED TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND NAMES HIM AS THE FATHER. BUT EVEN IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE REAL FATHER HAS SOME LIABILITY FOR CHILD SUPPORT.

YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SITUATION.

Re: relinquishing parental rights of child

The baby is not abusive and did not blacken your eye. The court is not going to punish the baby for her mother's bad behavior. You should contact an adoption lawyer, but the only way I know you are going to be able to surrender your parental rights, is for the mother to get married and have her husband agree to a step-parent adoption. Perhaps this can be done without her getting married, but I doubt it. Check it out with local counsel.