Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Would birth father have legal rights if he wasn't informed?

I placed a baby boy for adoption 5 years ago to a family in Georgia. The adoption went through Texas Courts. I never informed the birth father of the pregnancy, instead I had a close friend pose as the father to sign the papers stating that he was indeed the father of the baby that we have chosen to place for adoption.

If the REAL birth father were to find out about the adoption, would he have any legal rights to this child now? Could he try to gain custody of this 5 year old child, and/or could I be held for anything for lying about this???


Asked on 6/26/00, 12:34 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Would birth father have legal rights if he wasn't informed?

I can't imagine how the birth father could find out about what you state unless you tell him! He didn't know about your pregnancy, how could he possibly know about the rest of it.

I think you can rest easy. Your misstatements will probably not cause you grief, but the birth father's parental rights have never been terminated, so he still has rights concerning the child.

Don't tell if you haven't already. There is no earthly good which can come of it.

Read more
Answered on 9/05/00, 8:50 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in Texas