Desperate and Lost. Adoption Nightmare. Advice
My question involves adoption law for the State of: OHIO
I had a child 5 years ago at the age of 16
a family friend offered to take custody of the child so I could finish high school, go to college and give my son a better life.
She took over full custody because she thought adoption cost 10,000+ dollars
Fast forward to a year n a half ago and I got summoned for child support.
I have paid this "family friend" $200 a month for a year so she can get welfare
she contacted an adoption lawyer a year ago and paid the lawyer a few hundred dollars
and hasnt made contact since. Mind u the adoption cost less than 2 grand. This lady is avoiding me she will go a month or two with
no contact with me. She has promised me to get him adopted because I havent seen the child since
He was a year old and she knows its wrong me paying child support for "her" child to get welfare when she knowingly took on this child
physically and financially. I have a 2 year old of my own now and live on my own trying to support my new child n
myself as well as paying for the child I wanted to have a better life. I feel like I have mo where to turn
that I am being punished for giving him a family I thought could provide for him. I feel like giving up on everything im so
stressed and crying everyday.
PLEASE GIVE ME ADVICE
IM SO LOST and tired of hearing theres nothing I can do there has to be something!!
Thank u so much
Re: Desperate and Lost. Adoption Nightmare. Advice
Actually you are paying child support because it is your child and you are liable to support your child.
is there some reason you did not regain custody of your child instead of just making another one?
what happened to going to school so you could provide a better life for your son? Somewhere along the line it appears you gave up on your first child. I would suggest attempting to regain custody of your child so you can take care of him.
Re: Child Support Help Desperate
Did she get guardianship of your child through the COURTS?
This is YOUR child. YOU are legally responsible for paying for this child's support. You can't just hand a child over to someone and wash your hands of them. Until and unless a COURT says this is no longer your child, it remains your legal burden to provide support. If you chose to do things "off the books" and have been paying any money OUTSIDE of a court order, I'm sorry to tell you that this was NOT smart on your part. If you want to push an adoption forward, you are absolutely free to retain an attorney and start that process. Keep in mind the SHE isn't ABLE to "get him adopted" by herself. The father will have to be notified, etc.
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I feel like I have mo where to turn
You turn to a family law attorney to get this thing done the CORRECT way. The way it SHOULD have been done from the start, but wasn't.
Quote:
that I am being punished for giving him a family I thought could provide for him
You can't "gift" a child to someone. You need a COURT to do that.