Comments on: Unwed dads in court

By: John

John — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:38:22 +0000

Hugo, why do you assume that the father’s home would be a single parent home? Mabye you are right most of the time, but the way the article reads, the courts don’t even try to find out. Also you assume that all the kids being put up for adoption are going to stable two-parents homes. Do you know this to be the case?

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 03:50:49 +0000

H. Cunningham: If that is the reasoning, what is the basis for permitting an unmarried mother to retain custody of her child?

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 00:52:49 +0000

In adoption law, Utah correctly puts the interests of the child (in a stable two-parent home) ahead of the wishes of an unmarried DNA-dad. If a man wants to ensure the equal rights of a parent, he should find a woman willing to marry him. For “pro-family” and “defense of marriage” people, this should be a no-brainer.
Obviously ,however, if a DNA-dad is assessed for child support, that should give him equal parental rights.

By: John

John — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:55:10 +0000

Having read the ABA story (and having no desire to read the actual ruling) I think the judge got it right and wrong. I agree that the mother should have the right to not let the father into the delivery room. But I do have a problem with telling the mother she doesn’t even have to notify Dad about the birth. It is still his child and if he wants to be a part of the childs life then the courts should support that. Even more so if she says it is his child and plans on putting him down as the father on the birth certificate.

Having said all that, the only thing that would be helpful is if the reason she doesn’t want him there is because of previous domestic violence in which case I would be more inclined to the judge’s ruling.