[tdhraf]

Hi... We are in INDIANA. My husband is signing his rights away to his 8 year old child. She has lived with step-dad since she was younger than 2, he is her dad. My husband didn't know about her until much later. He has been ordered to pay support and we know that it stops when the adoption is final. He agreed to the adoption and received a request from their attorney asking him to sign a paper stating the he aware of and agrees to starting a Petition for Adoption. We were just told that is all he has to sign. No room for negotiations now... he owes back support but the mother has kept the girl from him for over 15 months (he has filed contempt several times and she has agreed to change but never has). An attorney we talked with today said that he has already had his rights terminated and the girl is basically been adopted though the final court date and home study have not been done. IS THIS CORRECT? All he does is agree to START the paper work and that is it... he doesn't get a chance to change his mind (he isn't planning on it but didn't realize that a 2 paragraphed paper he signed made it final). ANY HELP?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Doesn't he have to sign a final paper?

[Kallen330]

Once a parent has signed away their rights in most cases it is irrevocable. A court hearing usually needs to be held to reopen it etc. But yes, usually a two paragraph paper is all it takes. Then yes thats it. Done. Once the other parent has consented to the adoption everything else about that adoption becomes confidential. If he signed away his rights he's done. In most states however, it will not relieve him of back support. You may want to check that.