Terminating My Rights for Adoption and Child Support Arrearages

[lJesterl]

My question involves child support in the State of: FL & TN

From what I understand FL has jurisdiction over the child support because my ex and my daughter live in in FL. TN (where I live) just carrys out the order for FL. Me and my ex of 4 years split up before the baby was born and she moved to FL and got married. Originaly I was against terminating my rights but ever since last year I changed my mind. We both agree that we both made mistakes getting this far. Her keeping me away and pretending that her new husband was the father and myself not paying the child support like I should have.

I got behind and they took my license 1 1/2 years ago which made it impossible to work and for the last year I have been living with my girlfriend and getting help from anywhere I can. I had a job last year working from home and when I went for my child support hearing the DA ordered me to pay $500 and establish a job lean showing I had to job so I could get my license back. I did everything he asked me to do but when it was time for my next hearing so he could check to make sure I did everything I got the dates mixed up somehow and went to court the day after the actual date. I spoke to my case worker then and she advised me there was a warrant out for me for failure to appear and that she would try to get it retracted. A year later I still dont know if there is a warrant for me or not and i've been terrified to find out. I should have took care of the warrant/failure to appear situation then but I let it go so far because I lost my job and havent been able to get a new one. I have paid a pretty good amount of the child support on the record and off the record directly to her and about 8 months ago we agreed to do adoption so that the step dad (her husband) can adopt our daughter because its in the best interest for everyone and he is the only father she knows. He is a good guy and an excellent father which made my decision a little easier.

It's been about 8 months since we agreed for me to terminate my rights so he can adopt and I paid her directly so that she can pay for the adoption. She refuses to take any arrears and just like me wants the whole thing over with. I dont know what to do. Do I just sit and wait for the papers to come in the mail to sign them? Is there something I should be doing? In FL I know the future payments stop but if she doesnt want the back child support and wants it terminated is that possible concidering our situation of me never actualy being able to be the father. I have never seen her and she doesnt even know who I am. Will I still go to jail? I'm afraid to go to the courthouse to sign any papers on my own because I dont want to go to jail until everything is taken care of. I hope this makes sense. Ive been trying to get her to take care of the adoption on her end but she hasnt had the time. I just want to get everything over with and get my life back.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you owe money to the state, as would typically occur if she received public assistance, she can't waive that portion of the arrearage. If not, she should be able to waive the arrearage.

If you have a bench warrant for failure to appear, you can be found in contempt of court in addition to facing whatever penalties the court could have imposed at the hearing.