In Washington, parental rights open the door to a variety of cases. First, these rights are established for a father through a paternity lawsuit. However, the same process identifies the father to allow the mother to seek termination of these rights. In cases where the mother wishes to allow a stepfather to adopt their child legally, these steps are vital.
Establishing Parental Rights
A stepparent doesn’t possess the same legal rights as a biological parent. In cases in which the biological parents wishes to acquire custody, a stepparent isn’t likely to prevent this custody assignment. Even in cases in which the biological parent has been absent from the child’s life, the court could rule in their favor. Stepparents who wish to adopt their spouse’s children should contact a Family Lawyer in Poulsbo Wa.
The Catch 22
Fathers who wish to acquire visitation rights after discovering that a child is theirs biologically must also pay child support. A parenting plan consists of visitation and financial support. An absent father could acquire visitation or custody in some cases. However, the state will order them to pay back child support to the mother. The catch 22 is that while they establish a biological link, they also establish their mother’s legal right to child support.
How to Terminate Parental Rights
The court terminates parental rights based on abandonment, incarceration, and obvious risks to the child. Fathers who have failed to establish parental rights could prevent mothers from allowing a stepparent from adopting their child. However, in order to accomplish this, they must identify themselves as the biological father and provide financial support.
If the court rules against the biological father for any of the above-mentioned reasons, they could also require child support for previous years. However, the mother must file a motion to terminate the father’s parental rights.
Parental rights affect how courts rule in family court. The establishment and disestablishment of these rights dictate how parents proceed in areas such as adoption and child custody.
