Recent Feedback
I found out I had fathered a child about 17 years ago, I was told by the mother of the child whom I contacted when I photos of the child on facebook, I saw that she looked alot like. I questioned the mother and she said I was the father. She started the process in colorado for child support through the local cse. The child got pregnant and the mother gave her a choice to abort the child or get out. The child left and lived with close family friends. At the time we were in the process of a dna test but that stopped and I never heard anything more, I sent money to the child for a year every month then after 15 months or so the mother forced the child back home after she married. Then the process of the dna test started again, it came out the I was the father by 99% Then before anything else was done I got a message from the mother saying she wanted her husband to adopt the child, now I had spent the last year getting to know the child and I felt like I had bonded even though she called someone else dad. I asked the child what she wanted and she said she wanted to be adopted that it would help me in the back support cause I wouldnt owe any( i also noticed the child got some very large gifts before this happend) I then spoke to the mother and she basically said if I dont she will go after me for 16 years of back support and the child had been on medicade for the last couple years so I would be on the hook for that as well. I spoke with the cse office and they said they will change it to a paternity only with out support cause the mother will need that to continue with the adoption and i would not be gone after for anything in back childsupport but Im thinking about not adopting cause I would like to have a relation with the child and I dont not trust whats being told to me. If I consent to the adoption are they telling me correct that I will not be liable for back support?
Optional Information: State/Country relating to Question: Colorado Already Tried: nothing
Hello and welcome,A parent whose parental rights are terminated such that another parent becomes their legal parent through adoption, is a legal stranger to the child once the petition is granted, and would not owe support for the child.It is correct that if the child is adopted, you cannot typically be held responsible for any child support for that child.Moreover, once the child reaches the age of majority, they would normally have the discretion to reestablish a relationship with you, even over her parent's objections.
I hope you found my answer helpful, even if the law is not in your favor; please click on the ACCEPT button once I have answered your question. This is necessary for me to be paid for my work and so that I can get credit for assisting you. Your question will not close, and you will still have the opportunity to follow-up if needed. Leaving a bonus and positive feedback is not required, but doing so is certainly appreciated!
If you have additional questions, please keep in mind that I do not know what you already know or don't know, or with what you need help, unless you tell me. Please consider that I am answering the question or question that is posed in your posting based upon my reading of your post and sometimes misunderstandings can occur. If I did not answer the question you thought you were asking, please respond with the specific question you wanted answered.
Also remember, sometimes the law does not support what we want it to support, but that is not the fault of the person answering the question, so please be courteous. Thank you.
Experience: JD, 15 years experience including family law