“My husband is willing to terminate his parental rights to our daughter, I want to do this before filling for divorce in Washington State. Can we do this? And how?”

No, you cannot do it. And even if you could, it’s very ill-advised. No matter what you think of him, your daughter will always know that she is half you, and half her father.

Think of how your daughter would feel to think that one parent so didn’t want her that they were willing stop being her parent – and that the other parent thought so little of fully one-half of who she (your daughter) is, that they allowed it?

How selfish can you be?


Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. is a noted family law expert, Internet law expert, and Professor of Law at Lincoln Law School of San Jose. She is the author of "Surviving Divorce: the Single Father's Guide" and "The Email Deliverability Handbook" Contact This Author

State laws vary, and the above is intended as general advice, and not direct legal advice regarding any one particular situation in any one state. For direct personal legal advice related to your own situation you should consult an attorney familiar with the laws of your state and with your situation.