Question: Giving up your parental rights? I want the father of my unborn child to sign his parental rights over. I got him to sign on a contract we both wrote up one night, but later the next day, I was told it didn't mean anything unless it was notarized. After I explained that to him, he backed out. Is that true or can I still use that paper we both signed as legal? Can I do anything without him having to be present to get this done as soon as possible? Also...is there any other way that I can do this without having to go through court procedures? I know it's going to be hard to prove he's an unfit parent, but his morals and his life are screwed up badly and I don't want him in my child's life. The baby isn't born yet. I live in Illinois if anyone knows the law here. I've done some research and haven't really come up with too much.

Answer: My understanding is he can't legally give up his parental rights unless a Judge approves it in court.  This is because it's your baby's legal right to have access to both a father and a mother.  Even if the man doesn't want to be a father, your baby has legal rights.  For instance, child support.  Also, if something happened to the dad, and he died say in an accident that wasn't his fault, and his estate received a monetary settlement, your child would be legally entitled to share in that settlement   So, unless another man is willing to step in and adopt your baby and be your baby's legal father, a court will NOT take away the biological father's parental rights UNLESS he's determined by the court to legally be an unfit parent.  In other words, it's not your or his decision, but rather the court's decision, with the court's interest being what's in the best interest of the child.
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