Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

birth certificate

I was wondering if I have to put the fathers name on my 10 month old son's birth certificate. Me and

the father were never married and the father lives in California, (I live in AZ). Also, if I don't put his name on the certifiacate what legal actions can he take after that. I do recieve emails from my sons father once in a while, but that's all and he has never sent a dime for my son. He has also never meet my son, and I don't know when or if he ever will. The

father also said he would never sign away his

rights if I ever got married and wanted my husband to adopt my son. I don't need any child support and would just prefer that the father is not in my son's life, sense he is not any kind of positive role model.


Asked on 6/11/01, 11:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Re: birth certificate

In Arizona, if dad has had no contact with the child, and has sent no support, for more than 6 months, then you can file a Petition to Terminate Parental Rights. Your son would then be free for adoption at any point in the future.

Of course, you could also pursue him for child support (even for the past 10 months), which might scare him into "consenting" to the termination.

Please contact me directly for further information.

/s/ Rich J. Peters, Attorney

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Answered on 6/28/01, 3:49 pm


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