Showing posts with label surrender parental rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surrender parental rights. Show all posts

Monday, September 12, 2011

Divorce, Child Support, and Advice to Deadbeat Dads

[Photo from childfun.net]
As you can imagine, because we are Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers who offer free initial consultations, every day, we receive numerous telephone and email inquiries about Georgia divorces.  In response, we earnestly attempt to give good, sound information about Georgia divorce law.  Also, we always encourage each caller or writer to discuss their divorce questions with their own divorce attorney.  Finally, we also always try to be polite to callers and writers to the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC!

Sometimes, we get questions about divorce which stump us.  In other words, divorce attorneys are not legal encyclopedias.  We simply do not always have the answers without doing legal research.

And sometimes, we get questions for which there are no good responses, or, at least, there isn't a response which the caller or writer wants to hear.  One example of this type of question involves inquiries from so-called "deadbeat dads."  I really don't like to use this term, because, as I have explained before, it unfairly casts a shadow over all dads and ignores the fact that most fathers DO, in fact, support their children.

But a fairly common question we receive from some so-called "deadbeat dads" is:  "How can I surrender my parental rights?"  The answer we generally give is: "You can't!"  In other words, generally, no Georgia judge would (nor should) allow a father to avoid paying child support and simply walk away from their parental responsibilities.  If your spouse won't allow you child visitation, then, generally, your best remedy is to take 'em back to court, in a contempt action, rather than to try to avoid paying child support!

Sometimes, I also want to add that I believe the caller or writer should stop procreating and should consider getting a vasectomy!  But I generally keep such advice to myself!  Like I said, we always try to be polite to callers and writers to the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Step Parent Adoption: Surrender of Parental Rights


At the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, as father and son Augusta, Georgia divorce attorneys, we generally offer free initial consultations. As a result, each day, we get callers from all over Georgia who are looking for information about divorce, child custody, adoption, and countless other family law issues. (Of course, you should always consult with your own divorce lawyer about your own particular situation!)
One common issue which we receive calls about involves whether a parent can voluntarily surrender their parental rights. That's right! Can you believe it!? Some folks "out there" actually want to know if they can give up, or avoid, all parental responsibility for their children! Generally, in most cases, we simply tell such callers that you simply cannot "turn over" your kids and avoid responsibility for paying child support!
Of course, each situation is different. In other words, in some situations, a surrender of parental rights is possible and can lead to a positive result. For example, it is possible for a parent to surrender his parental rights if his spouse has re-married and the new step father is willing to adopt the kids and support them. In this situation, the kids will hopefully be taken care of by a new father who will love and support them. The results in this situation can be fantastic!
However, what is your opinion of the deadbeat parents "out there" who, even if they are gainfully employed, simply want to find a way to avoid paying child support? In your opinion, should a parent be easily allowed to surrender his or her parental rights?