Do I have grounds to have the father's rights taken away?

Question

Ok, so my son will be 2 next month. His biological father has not ever wanted anything to do with him, and kept insisting that my now husband adopt him. We kept waiting for him to sign off his rights, but he never did. In May of this year, I got a random phone call fom my son's bio. father... he said that he wanted to be part of my son's life. Sure... after about 2 years of allowing another man to raise his son. My son calls my husband daddy because he is the only father figure in his life. Well a few days after that phone call I got a phone call from his dad (the grandfather) he had just found out 3 weeks prior that he even had a grandson, and that was only due to his having the same name as his son, and his wife accidentally opening the child support statement... They are pressuring him to come around, and it is VERY obvious to my husband and I that the father realyl doesn't want to be around. We had made arrangements to meet with the "grandparents" and for them to see my son. I have e-mails setting up the visits but all were arranged by his parents... mostly his dad, and not by the father himself. Do I have any grounds to prove that the father really doesn't want to be around, because if he wanted to be in my son's life, surely you'd think he'd be blowing up my phone and e-mail asking. Instead I get served with papers, stating that he wants two 12-hr visits every week, and wants them to be supervisied by his parents.... WE DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE!!! How can I prove that his father is forcing him to say that he wants to be around, because he won't come out and say it... and do I have any ground for getting his rights taken away???

Answer 1

What a stressful situation for you.  It sounds more like the grandparents found out that they have a grandchild and they want to  be in his life.  Although he could be using them to get to his son.  I would not agree to his request.  Like you said - they are strangers to him and to you - and 12 hours - no way!  If anything I would allow a 2 hour visit for the grandparents - supervised by you.  Go to the sight listed below and post your question there.  Hopefully they can help you more.

Answer 2

1. Grandparents have rights too.

2. Not that visitation and support are dependent on each other (i.e., you can have visitation without support) BUT either father is in the picture or NOT - if he wants to be part of his son's life (i.e., visitation) then he better pony up. IF NOT then get him the paperwork to terminate parental rights, which will go hand-in-hand with your husband being the "official" father. Your leverage is that if your husband is the dad, then biological dad is off the financial hook.

3. Biological father does NOT have to be part of the picture even if grandparents have visitation

4. Two 12-hrs visits a week is a bit much, even 1 day a week is a bit much considering the past

5. Why did he volunteer to have supervised visitation? Is he unlikely to get unsupervised visitation??

Here's your offer - grandparents ONLY visitation once a month + a few holidays (minor ones like Memorial Day) and/or overnight visits; Dad gives up parental rights & your husband adopts and you don't file claim for support

Answer 3

The father is always entitled to some part of the childs life.  the fact that you "dont know those people" doesnt really matter since the father does.  You have to have faith that he still wants whats best for his child, its a biological thing thats not easily overcome.