RE: Interesting debate over there .....
February 24, 2016 at 10:37 am
(This post was last modified: February 24, 2016 at 10:39 am by Joods.)
(February 24, 2016 at 10:03 am)Jörmungandr Wrote: The man can opt out of parental rights, but not out of parental responsibilities.
If you're referring to financial obligations, yes they can. These days, if a woman gives birth to a child and she is not married to the father, he is presented with a form in the hospital called an Affidavit of Paternity. He can refuse to sign it. Mine did. What he can't refuse is a court order establishing paternity. Once paternity is established, he has options of either stepping up and paying court ordered support or he can sign over his rights to the mother, as part of a court order. This releases him of his obligations, which would include having to pay support, but he also will not be put on the birth certificate or be allowed any other rights to the child, including custody and/or visitation.
Disclaimer: I am only responsible for what I say, not what you choose to understand.
