Anyone can sign away their rights as a parent, my father took the easy way out and didn't put his name on the birth certificate which gave him no parental rights to begin with.
If he doesn't take away visitation rights he should
His decision to sign over his rights has to be approved by the courts.
the same rights as any age father
No, but he will not be allowed to do so without the permission of the court and the mother, provided that she is not now, nor in the future, on welfare. see link
No, as it's a sign of parental alienation syndrome. see link
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You can, BUT they either have to be wards of the state or their parents/legal gaurdians sign over parental rights to you. If not, you could be charged with kidnapping or harboring a runaway. If the parents don't care the child is missing, they will most likely sign away their rights.
If the father gives up his rights they will have no rights either. They can see the child if the mother say so. Even before that only a few states have rights for grandparents so they can seek visitation through the court. It is always up to the parents to decide.
It varies between states, it can be 6 months-1 year but also depends on what reason he has for being absent and if he has paid child support and if not, the reasons for that. Taking away parental rights are not taken lightly.
She can not put down anyone as the father. Only the biological father can sign the birth certificate and if she lets her friend sign it it will be fraud. The father have to prove paternity in court by providing a DNA test or he will not have any parental rights. And what about the child? The child have the right to know who the real father is. And your friend will be asked for child support as soon as you ask for benefits. You are not a friend if you do this to the 17yo.
no
It is unclear what the question is asking. If you are asking if you can voluntarily give up your rights to your son. . . I am unsure what you mean by "giving up your rights," there is no legal way to disown a blood relative. If you believe that by doing so you will no longer be liable for child support payments . . . it will not work.