Q: In New York state does paternity have to be established for the father in order for him to sign his rights away?
My daughters father is not listed on her birth certificate and has not been involved in her 6 years of life. He wants to sign his rights away as her father. Do I have to establish paternity with the court first for him to do that?
A: A parent cannot sign their rights away. The only way to lose your rights as a parent is have your rights terminated by the courts after a neglect petition has been filed or when the child is adopted.
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