If you’re a prospective birth parent, you may ask, “If my child is adopted, do I still have to pay child support?”
Then answer to this question is no. When your child is adopted, it’s a permanent decision that involves the termination of your parental rights and responsibilities — and, therefore, any obligation you have to pay child support. Whether your child is being adopted as an infant or when they’re older, if you give consent to have your parental rights terminated, you will not have any legal parental obligations to them.
If you’re asking, “If my child is adopted, do I still have to pay child support?” or have questions about your legal rights during the adoption process and what will be expected of you after the adoption is complete, you can always talk to an adoption counselor at A Child’s Hope. We can explain what the adoption process is like and what is legally required of you, whether you’re a prospective birth mother or father.
Generally, when parents ask us this question, it’s in regard to two kinds of adoption:
Private Domestic Infant Adoption
When an infant is placed for adoption with an adoptive family, both the birth mother and father’s parental rights are terminated. That means, once you sign your consent to the adoption, you will have no rights or responsibilities to your baby, including any obligation to pay child support.
In addition, when you place a child for adoption through A Child’s Hope, you can be assured that any adoptive family is financially prepared to complete the adoption process and raise your child in a financially stable and supportive home.
Stepparent Adoption
The other situation when biological parents wonder about child support payments is in a stepparent adoption. Usually, the parent who is voluntarily terminating their rights so their child’s stepparent can adopt them is the one who is curious about this. The answer is the same in this case; once your parental rights are terminated, you will have no obligation to pay child support. However, if you have outstanding child support payments at the time of the adoption, you may still be obligated to pay these.
Before you cease paying your child support obligations, make sure you talk to an attorney and the North Carolina Child Support Enforcement office. They can best answer any questions you have about your current child support obligations and any payments that you may owe after your child’s adoption is complete. The counselors at A Child’s Hope can also refer you to the correct professional or attorney for your situation.
In addition to the referrals, our counselors can help you better understand your legal rights and responsibilities during the adoption process, how the adoption process works and what financial resources are available if you’re considering adoption. If you’re asking, “If my child is adopted, do I still have to pay child support?” please call us today at 877-890-4673, text PREGNANT to 919-971-4396 or email ach@achildshope.com.
Click a star near where you live on the NC map to see what counselor would be assigned to you
Kelly Dunbar
Triangle
As an adoptive parent I truly have a passion for adoption. There is no greater joy than helping to create a family! I love this job and I love working with adoptive parents as well as the birth parents. When it all comes together it is an awesome experience!
Rebecca Anderson
New Bern
Rebecca Ann Anderson serves the coastal communities. Rebecca graduated from American University with degrees in political science and literature. She received her Masters in Science and Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She also completed two years of Law School at the University of Baltimore. While clerking for an Adoption Lawyer she found her calling. Rebecca resides in New Bern with her husband and two miniature dachshunds, Sweet Thing and Coco Weenie.
Sloane Mosley
Greensboro
Sloane completed her undergraduate degree in Human Services Counseling at Old Dominion University. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California through the Virtual Academic Center, to be completed in August 2015. Sloane has been working in the social work field for about 8 years, working with children and families. She loves advocating for children!
Lakisha Brown
Winston Salem
Lakisha completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Welfare at Winston-Salem State University. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Syracuse University. Lakisha has worked with children, individuals and families for 11 years. Her experience includes, working with at risk youth, children and homeless families, case management, child mental health, as well as school social work. She is also a long-time basketball fan, and is a former player and coach. She played at Winston-Salem State University and coached women’s basketball at Elon University and Syracuse University. Lakisha and her husband reside in Alamance County, with their young son.
Katherine Fitzsimmons
Triangle
Katherine completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at St. Bonaventure University and earned her Master’s in Social Work degree from Binghamton University. Her passion is working with and advocating for women, youth, and children. She has worked for more than 10 years facilitating kinship, international, and domestic adoptions; eight of those years were working for the Independent Adoption Center here in Raleigh. Katherine also has a background in crisis management in a hospital setting. When she is not working, she can be found volunteering at her sons’ school, exploring the Raleigh-Durham area, or baking yummy sweets!!
Gloria Curry
Asheville
Gloria received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from St. Leo College. She earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Florida in Family, Youth and Community Science. Gloria has worked with children and families as an educator, mental health counselor and social worker. Gloria facilitated adoptions and foster care placements. She observed the remarkable courage, compassion and commitment of birth families who strive to ensure their child has the opportunity to achieve their potential. Gloria witnessed the dedication adoptive families have in providing care for the child. Gloria lives in Henderson County. She is an avid gardener, reader and loves to explore the mountains of western North Carolina.
Danielle Sample-Raggins
Charlotte
Danielle earned her Masters in Professional Counseling at Liberty University. She is pursing her Doctorate Degree in Traumatology, with the expectation of completion this year. Danielle began her career while in college, by serving as a counselor for teen girls in a residential setting, that were placing their children for adoption. She went on to work as a Foster Care and Adoptions Social Worker. She is also a Therapist and Parenting Educator with individuals, children and their families. She has continued this work for the last 16 years. Outside of working, Danielle loves spending time going to the park, playing board games or just spending time with her three wonderful kiddos; Shaun, Lauson, and Laurielle.
Melanie Spainhour
Triangle - Bi-lingual
Melanie is excited to be working with A Child's Hope in the Raleigh area. She received her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) and her Bachelor of Social Work degree from NC State University (GO PACK!). Melanie has worked with children and families, school systems and local communities, primarily focusing on the Latino community. She loves spending time with her husband, three daughters and taking trips to the beach!
Sylvia Senbel
Charlotte
Sylvia is a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor's in Social Work. She also received her Masters in Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Sylvia has been working with children and famalies for more than 19 years. She enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband and three boys. She also loves animals, especially her dog Jazzy.
