Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Re: adoption/divorce

I am concerned that you need to be truthful with the attorney who is representing you and your wife regarding the adoption. If the attorney learns that there are issues with the marriage, they have to determine whether it is best to finalize the adoption or stop the process. Also, when your marriage ends, you and your now-wife have interests that diverge.

You need to make this clear to the adoption attorney, because that person is going to have to withdraw if you and your wife are not aligned and that could derail the adoption (which may be what you want).

The parent who is not the primary residential parent will pay child support to the primary residential parent, barring some circumstances that may or may not apply to you.

What you can sign that could - possibly - eliminate your child support obligation before the adoption is finalized is a divorce petition. That will stop the adoption, as the Court will not approve placing a child with just one parent.

Elizabeth Powell