Unwed Father Research Paper

The mother and father lived together for several months. During that time they conceived a child together. The father visited his former girlfriend in the hospital, and the two agreed to raise the child and help each other. Two days later, the mother gave the child up for adoption without notifying the father or receiving his consent. The mother actively concealed the fact that she placed the child for adoption by refusing to allow the father to visit her or the child. After the mother admitted to the father she placed the child, the father immediately attempted to stop the adoption. The Idaho Supreme Court, emphasized the importance of establishing a connection with the child stating:

The unwed father must “grasp the opportunity” to make a significant custodial, personal, financial, and legal connection with the child .... [B]ecause of a child 's urgent need for permanence and stability, the unwed father must act quickly to take responsibilities and establish ties .... The fleeting opportunity may pass un-grasped through no fault of the unwed father or perhaps due to the interference of some private third party; nevertheless, once passed the unwed father is left without an interest cognizable under the Fourteenth Amendment.

The court held the …show more content…
Doe (Doe 2004), the Idaho Supreme Court addressed the notice requirement for an unwed father under the termination of parental rights statute. The father was listed on the birth certificate and the court still held that since he is listed on the birth certificate he is entitled to notice of the terminate of parental rights. The court further held, that when the mother and father acknowledge the father’s paternity, his action would not be blocked if he does not register under the putative father’s registry. This is a special situation, the mother and father both acknowledged the father’s paternity. Therefore, the court determined that he was not barred for failing to register under §