Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

I'm trying to get advice on how to start the legal process of signing over my parental rights and having my daughters mothers husband adopt my daughter legally. The mother filed for paternity when my daughter was 3 years old and she now lives in canada with her husband and my daughter. She won't let me see, write, or call and speak to my daughter. I've basically become a money tool for her for child support. I'm done playing games. Time to move on... she has... she just wants money! Live in washington state and will be going thru the legal process here.


Asked on 2/12/10, 12:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Amir John Showrai The Pacific Law Firm, PLLC

I think you are going to have a problem if you try to do all this here. Since your daughter lives in Canada, the adoption process needs to take place up there. As part of a step parent adoption, your parental rights will be terminated, and thus, your parental duties as well. Once your daughter is adopted in the province she lives in, you'll need to bring a certified copy of the adoption orders and the order terminating your parental rights and duties to file here in whichever county has your current support order, and then you'll need to bring an agreed motion to terminate the child support orders based upon the adoption.

I say "agreed" since I believe you all agree on this happening. You'll have to consult a Canadian attorney from the province your daughter lives in for the details of the process up there to do the step-parent adoption and simultaneous termination of your rights and duties. Again, once you have those orders, we can then end your child support through the Washington State Courts.

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Answered on 2/17/10, 7:57 pm


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