What Must I Do to Sign My Full and Complete Rights Away to the Child

My question involves a child custody case from the State of Ohio "child's not born yet": I make $14hr and I have so much debt that I can barely make ends meet by myself, I honestly thought I was shooting blanks never used a condom no kids and now I got one on the way. His mom doesn't have a Job, To me I think the best thing to do is sign away any and all of my rights. And basically leave it up to her if she wants to put him up for adoption. I know I'd be a good dad. But I also know I can't afford this child. Any suggestions? I'm scared, nervous, and honestly don't know what to do / expect.

You can't sign over your rights UNLESS Mom agrees to sign over hers too (adoption), or Mom marries and her husband wishes to adopt the child.

Have you talked to Mom?

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I'm scared, nervous, and honestly don't know what to do / expect.

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didn't you already do enough?

just kidding.


first, and this isn't because you think the mother was seeing somebody else but I recommend an unmarried guy always refuse to sign the affidavit of paternity without a DNA test (court ordered). If you are very certain it is yours, go ahead and sign but figure that you cannot change it if you find out later the child really wasn't yours. Sometimes you can. Sometimes you can't. Figure you won't be able to so make sure now when you have a real choice about it.


Then, once the child is born, either she or you can initiate an action to determine paternity. If you don't want to establish paternity or just don't want to bother, then don't. The mother can do it if she wishes to establish paternity. If she receives welfare, they will likely require her to identify any possible father and the court will require paternity be established.

Unless paternity is established, you have no rights to the child. You have no right to visit the child. You are not liable, financially, until paternity is established.

If the mother does sue to establish paternity and you are the father, she can seek child support from you. It is your child so it is only right and expected you assist in the cost of raising the child. Plan on paying it for at least the next 18 years.

Even if you give away your rights as a father, you are still going to pay child support if she files and assuming that the child is yours. If she does not file for child support because she does not need it and she is getting assistance from somewhere else, you can give her money on the side but make sure you keep receipts of those amounts and mark them as child care. If not, all of them are considered gifts ... just in case that in the future she is taking you to court and files a retroactive order for child support.

Good luck.