Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia
we adopted a special needs child, that child after 8 horrific years was moved to a theraputic foster home, we are now being asked to pay child support payments - is there any recourse for us, I hate being treated like a deadbeat dad.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Very unlikely since once you adopted this child, in the eyes of the law s/he became your very own with the same rights and responsibilities attached thereto as if the child were naturally born to you.
There are a number of factors that would affect this answer that are not addressed in your question. Was the child removed from you voluntarily or involuntarily? Is the juvenile court already involved? Is there a foster care plan being reviewed by the court? Have you discussed an entrustment agreement? Without knowing the current status, it is hard for me to answer your question. If you still have legal and physical custody, you could conceivably file a petition for relief of custody. If not, you can sign an entrustment agreement. If the child is in foster care, there should be a plan in place with a permanent goal. What is it? Too little information to give you any suggestions, but there are some questions to which you need to have answers.