Then answer to this question is no. When a child is adopted, it’s a permanent decision that involves the termination of the formal legal parent’s  parental rights and responsibilities — and, therefore, any obligation they have to pay child support. Whether you  adopt a  child as an infant or when they’re older, if you give consent to have your parental rights terminated, you will not have any legal parental obligations to them.

We you are considering adoption, you should keep this in mind. If you are financially secure, perhaps this is not an issue for you. But if things are a little tight, you may want to hold off for a while. Any adoptive family must be financially prepared to complete the adoption process and raise your child in a financially stable and supportive home.

When an infant is placed for adoption with an adoptive family, both the birth mother and father’s parental rights are terminated. That means, once you sign your consent to the adoption, you will have no rights or responsibilities to your baby, including any obligation to pay child support.

If you have questions about your legal rights during the adoption process and what will be expected of you after the adoption is complete, you can always come in to see us. We can explain what the adoption process is like and what is legally required of you, whether you’re a prospective birth mother or father.

Ty Zdravko practices law as a divorce attorney, and family law attorney in Palm Harbor, Clearwater and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at www.divorceboardcertified.com
or call (727) 787-5919.