If the BM lists the father as unknown do you still need his signature?

ttcamiracle · 09-22-2009, 01:26 AM

We are in the beginning phase of adopting a little girl. The birth mother wants to list the father as unknown so we do not have to hunt him down.

He doesn't want anything to do with the child and has disappeared. It is possible to finalize the adoption without his signature??

kellie105 · 09-22-2009, 01:33 AM

I would think if the father is truly unknown then it would be fine. The issue would come if the father that was once "unknown" were to come to light and want to challenge for custody then you may have issue.

calches · 09-22-2009, 01:25 PM

If SHE lists him unknown then this falls to her not you. You do not have to prove that she doesn't know who the BF is. In all honesty if she doesn't know who he is then fine, list unknown...but if she does and SHE doesn't list then it's her fault. She is going to be only one listed and then that falls to only 1 parent's parental consent to be terminated and that's all that needed.

In Lousinana there is the Putative Father Registry: http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices...52&detail=7812

which means that if he thinks he got someone pregnant he must register when the registry. I do not know how it works in LA but here in TX if someone saying that they are a certain child's father within 30 days of birth then their rights are automatically terminated (they must know the city/and hosptial where the birth took place).

If I were you I would give the ball to the BM and if she lists him fine...if not...well...then...it's not liek you know the name of the BF and can say hold on...you need to list so and so...

But once the adoption is final it is final...no one can challenge it...

ProudPCOMom · 09-22-2009, 02:20 PM

You really should be working with a Lawyer who does adoptions. The Lawyer would have all of the necessary paperwork and will know what to do.

If she knows who the baby's father is, he should be listed and attempts made to contact him. They can advertise for him and if he does not come forward his rights can be terminated.

It's best to have all of the paperwork done truthfully and with everything legal. An addoption attorney would be well worth the money.

Susan

verbal0rchid · 10-13-2009, 07:51 PM

Typically, at least in GA, what happens when the BF is either unknown or unable to be located (as with my case) a legal notice is placed in the newspaper locally and the last place the BF was known or believed to be. If at some future point the BF comes forward and files a petition to legitimate, one option is to ask the courts to overturn the adoption, thereby reverting custody to the BM and she will have to battle him from there. This can be an endless source of hurt and frustration (personal experience).

Thankfully my situation was resolved without the adoptive parents having to endure a single day without "our" daughter, but it's something you should be prepared to deal with if the unthinkable should happen.