Palm Harbor Child Support Lawyers

How parental rights relate to child support

Can parents sign over parental rights and not pay child support? This legal issue is more complex than meets the eye.  Our Palm Harbor child support attorneys at the Law Offices of K. Dean Kantaras, P.A. can help you deal with this concern.

When a court terminates parental rights, the parent does not have to pay child support. However, parental rights termination is a legal matter and not simply parental choice. A parent cannot just hire an attorney and file to sign over rights, and even when courts terminate parental rights, parents still owe back child support.

Termination of parental rights

A judge must have compelling reasons to terminate a parent's rights. While many parents create less-than-ideal relationships with their children, unless the parent is abusive or highly negligent, or another extreme situation exists, courts take the view that it is in the child’s best interests to maintain a relationship with the parent. Courts also consider expenses involved in rearing a child, and two parents can provide more financial support than one.

Circumstances where the court may consider terminating a parent's rights include the following:

Abuse Neglect Abandonment Extreme disinterest in the child Felony conviction Parent incarceration Sexual abuse

Extreme alcohol abuse Drug addiction Child or sibling felony assault Murder or manslaughter of a sibling child A child judged in need of services Stepparent adoption

A child judged in need of services is a child who is beyond the parent's control, and consequently the child or others are at risk. The child may have a serious substance abuse problem or suffer from a lack of food, shelter, education, and healthcare. The parent may be unable, unwilling, or unsuccessful in providing a family structure for the child. The child may skip school or run away from home. While Florida offers programs, counseling, residential shelter, and assistance to parents with such problems, terminating parental rights is another option.

Contact Palm Harbor child support attorneys

For legal advice regarding parental rights and child support, we invite you to contact our Pinellas County family law firm at (727) 781-0000, or use our online contact form.

We have law offices in Largo, Holiday & Palm Harbor serving Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties

K. Dean Kantaras is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar