Can father in the state of Georgia relinquish parental rights without court hearing voluntarily?

Answer 1

It is not easy to voluntarily surrender parental rights. If it were, there would be long lines of people trying to do it in an attempt to avoid paying child support. However Georgia law does have these provisions:

Your parental rights may be involuntarily terminated for the following reasons:

Commission of a violation of the Georgia domestic relations code to effect an involuntary surrender. The court may surrender parental rights without a petition or voluntary consent if the following situations are present: child is abandoned by the parent, parent cannot be found after a diligent search, parent is insane or parent has abused or neglected the child. In any of these instances, the court will terminate the parent's rights if it is in the best interests of the child under Ga. Code Title 19 Sec. 8 § 19-8-10.

Voluntary termination may occur if the child is placed in a state agency or put up for adoption pursuant to Ga. Code Title 19 Sec. 8 § 19-8-4. This statute also applies if the mother marries and her husband wishes to adopt the child.

You also have the option to petition the court to surrender parental rights. If a voluntary written waiver is not an option and you do not fall within one of the above categories for involuntary surrender, you may draft and file a petition to surrender your parental rights. Your petition should set forth facts as to why a termination of rights is in the best interests of the child not in your best interests (ie, you don't want to assume parental responsibility). The court will make a decision based on the facts set forth in your petition. (See, Ga. Code Title 19 Sec. 8 § 19-8-11 ).

If the courts find that such termination would not have good cause or not be in the best interests of the child, your petition may be denied.

Answer 2

no