Legal Notices for Fathers?

Question

My father did not sign any relinquishment papers for my adoption. Would the agency have been obliged to publish a legal notice to give him a chance to come forward? and if so, where are such notices published?

My mother knew who he was but he was not named on my birth certificate (which I haven't seen but vital Statistics tell me so)

This was 37 years ago in case that makes a difference

Answer 1

I am not sure. I have no info on mine either and that was 32 yrs ago. Good luck :)

Answer 2

a certain search angel we both know for NY has just started a "notice of relinquishments" website that is storing all notices of termination of parental rights in the paper.

ask her... its not open yet, but it will soon.

Answer 3

My father was not named on my bcert or on any adoption papers. Naming him would have added to the paperwork involved. Fathers rights are largely ignored.

Answer 4

I feel that both parents should have to relinquish legally before an adoption takes place.  I don't know whether that happened in my case or not, as I have never seen my birth certificate either.

1965 was a long time ago.  I hope things are different now.

Answer 5

It's hard to say what the laws were in that state then.  But now, if the bio mother names or does not name the bio father on the birth certificate, the procedures are the same.  If he is know and can be located through a diligent search or bio mom's info, then he is served.  If it is a good serve and he doesn't respond, his rights can be terminated.  If he is not located, then the info about him and bio mom is published -- where depends on the city and state.  Some are in little legal newspapers that even bored attorneys don't read, others are in large newspapers, others are in small community newspapers.  No bio father I have ever known steps forward from a publication.  FYI, some states are now moving toward skipping these steps all together and allowing a bio fathers rights to be terminated if he does not register with paternity registry in that state.  Problem is, most guys have never even heard of paternity registry.  This could change not only adoptions but relationships in the future, with guys perhaps taking more responsibility for possible pregnancies.  We'll see.

Answer 6

I don't know about my birthfather and his rights that was almost 50 years age- however with my adopted son- our attorney put notices in newspapers and other places and gave him a certain amount of time- I think it was 60 days- and when they did not hear anything- they severed his rights legally. If you are looking for your birth father- I hope that you can find him.

Answer 7

when lori went to the agency my bfather went with her and filled out all the papers with her. he was very active, but he never signed the b.c.

he was, ummm, 'unavailable' (we'll leave it at that,ok?)

i dont think any relinquishment papers would have been signed until after i was born, so i would have to guess he didnt sign them. and as far as i know he was not issued a legal notice. it was just left at the will of lori. that was 35 years ago, so i would assume the laws were the same as when you were born.

EDIT TO GERSHOM-man i love the new hat!!!!!!

gershom leading us into battle, armor gleaming. viva la gershom!

Answer 8

Seen it done with notices on "who" the father was believed to be even though he was not on the birth cert., would not have mattered if he saw the notice: He can't read.He has dyslexia,everything written looks upside down.To make matters worse :at the time he was 2500 miles west.

Answer 9

Wow Heather, that is unfortunate. It just happens to be that my husband had sort of the same circumstances. Another man's name was put on the birth certificate, the baby was given up for adoption and now the mother has contacted him 7 years later to say it was his ! If his name was not on the birth certificate then I don't think they (the agency)  would be required to publish a legal notice. Your mother could have said she did not know who he was, etc. No offense to your mother but that is the truth of the matter. Are you wanting to find him now ? You should see the birth certificate with your own eyes and look at all paperwork in the case. Write back if you need more help ! Good luck !

Answer 10

37 years ago, not sure what the requirements were for publishing legal notices, but, now they would be required to do so.  Most newspapers have pages of of ads labeled as "Legal Notices" and they run through out the paper.

These include house sales foreclosures, public meetings, and custody hearings where one parent's location is unknown.

The ads typically run several times a week for 4-6 weeks. The time frame could vary by state depending upon their requirements.

My guess is, that back then, the agency would only be legally obligated to publish the notice if they knew his name and possible hometown or last known address.