Uncertainty

[shellbelle]

The father of my 3 children, whom I am not married to, has not seen or taken care of his kids in about 7 or 8 months. I am in the process of a divorce from another man.

Question #1: As soon as the divorce is done will the father have automatic rights to the 3 children?

I'm not certain if I want to make him pay child support or not, if it's worth it or not. He wants to cause nothing but grief in our lives...nothing positive. I am sure I just want him out of all our lives.

Question #2: How would I go about getting him to sign over parental rights, since he is willing to do so?

Thanks

 

[Duranie]

7 or 8 months is not that much time. The courts are not going to terminate his rights, when you are about to become a single mom and therefore might have to go on state assistance. You need to file for child support. He will have some rights to the kids regardless, but he has to go to court and get visitation. Your kids sound like they are going through a lot, what would terminating rights of the Dad do? The courts won't do it anyways since they are not being adopted. Find a way to co-parent with Dad. He has rights to the kids regardless if you get divorce or not, since it appears your current husband did not adopt them.