How to Sign Away Paternity Rights in Wyoming
By Mike Broemmel
Updated July 21, 2017
child image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
Wyoming law permits a biological father the ability to sign away his paternity rights (also known as parental rights) in very limited circumstances. Paternity law in Wyoming generally permits a father to terminate his paternity rights only if an adoption is to occur. In other words, the law in Wyoming does not permit the termination of a father's paternity rights if such an act leaves only the mother to provide for the child. Therefore such a termination of paternity rights typically is part of an adoption case, either by a stepparent or by a couple seeking to adopt the child.
Obtain a voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form. The clerk of the court likely has such a form available for your use if the termination of paternity rights is part of a stepparent adoption. If the termination is part of a full adoption case where both birth parents desire to relinquish their rights, the clerk of the court or the agency or attorney arranging the adoption will have the proper form.
Read the voluntary relinquishment form closely and make sure you understand it. Signing the document completely terminates your paternity rights forever.
Sign the voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form in front of a notary public.
File the form with the clerk of the court where the stepparent or complete adoption proceedings are pending. In the alternative, provide the executed consent form to an attorney overseeing the process.
Keep a copy of the voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form for your own records.
Tips
Keep in mind that a judge may require you to appear in court to verify that you signed the voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form as a free and voluntary act. The only situation in Wyoming in which such a relinquishment is invalid is when it was signed by a father under duress or deception.
Warnings
Consider retaining an attorney to assist you in reviewing and executing a Wyoming voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form. Although the Wyoming State Bar Association cannot recommend a specific attorney to represent you, the organization does maintain a directory of attorneys in different practice areas. The Wyoming State Bar Association is contacted at:
Wyoming State Bar Association 4124 Laramie Street Cheyenne WY 82003 307-632-9061 wyomingbar.org
References
Resources
Tips
- Keep in mind that a judge may require you to appear in court to verify that you signed the voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form as a free and voluntary act. The only situation in Wyoming in which such a relinquishment is invalid is when it was signed by a father under duress or deception.
Warnings
- Consider retaining an attorney to assist you in reviewing and executing a Wyoming voluntary relinquishment of paternity rights form. Although the Wyoming State Bar Association cannot recommend a specific attorney to represent you, the organization does maintain a directory of attorneys in different practice areas. The Wyoming State Bar Association is contacted at:
- Wyoming State Bar Association
- 4124 Laramie Street
- Cheyenne WY 82003
- 307-632-9061
- wyomingbar.org
Writer Bio
Mike Broemmel began writing in 1982. He is an author/lecturer with two novels on the market internationally, "The Shadow Cast" and "The Miller Moth." Broemmel served on the staff of the White House Office of Media Relations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and political science from Benedictine College and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University. He also attended Brunel University, London.