[DadinTN]

I have a question which I hope someone can answer. My ex-wife has remarried and her new husband is contemplating adoption of my daughters. The subject has come up whether or not child support will be discontinued should he adopt them. I have faithfully paid child support every week since separation and then some. I do not owe any arrears so that is not an issue. Their mother has always been about the money and I believe that she will not allow continue adoption proceedings if I no longer have to pay child support. This may sound weird but I think it would be in their best interest that the adoption should be allowed to happen. Does anyone know if child support is legally terminated by adoption by the stepparent in the state of PA?

[debsdone]

Once you give your children up for adoption, you will have no legal ties to them. No child support, no visitation, nothing. Whomever adopts them will be their legal father in every way. I am not familiar with your state, but I can't imagine this being any different in any state. Debi

[Searching_03256]

Originally posted by debsdone
Once you give your children up for adoption, you will have no legal ties to them.

Debi is, as usual, quite right! Neither can I imagine any state not being that way.

I will correct one small "technical" thing as I have heard it several times and many clients come to me with the same thought in mind. Your legal ties stop once the adoption is final, NOT once you sign consents. I realize Debi was specifically saying when "you give your children up" but as said, I have heard many say that it stops when you sign consents and I have never seen that to be true.

Good Luck!

-Scott

[Sledge]

Child support does stop when adoption is finalized.

[DadinTN]

Thanks to all of you who have responded so quickly. I don't know what will happen but I wanted to get a feel for what could. Thanks Again

[uncertain_dad]

Ok. I adopted my x-wifes son when he was 5. He is now 13. We recently devorced and I got an order of child support for both my 7 year old biological daughter and my adopted son. The judge ordered the child support based on my stating I adopted him. Yet he still has contact with his biological father. Is there any way to make his biological father responsible for child support? This order is from Passaic County NJ.

[Poolside]

I suspect others have advice for what steps you could take to surrender your parental rights, however, when you adopted him, he become your son, legally.
Biology is not longer the deciding factor for who is responsibile for child support. For all intents and purposes, you are his father..and yes, that typically means child support is your responsibily. (sometimes it's the mom's)

[numbr1dbcksfan]

Poolside's answer is right. The Bio - father's rights were terminated.. Legally and according to his BC (I assume it was altered) you are his father... and so you are the one to pay support.

You can try to see if you can terminate your rights.. but usually you cant just terminate your parental rights just so you dont have to pay child support.