Utah father Colby Nielsen broke down in tears on Monday, Nov. 23, watching helplessly as his infant daughter was given to her new adoptive parents without his consent.
After Kaylee was born on Nov. 4, the 20-year-old father claims he has never left her side.
But all that changed when he was forced to give her up to adoptive parents, after Kaylee’s mother decided to put her up for adoption, unbeknownst to Nielsen.
So shaken by the idea of losing her, Nielsen said he “couldn’t even get her out of her car seat.”
Wes Hutchins, Nielsen’s lawyer, said a technical reading of the Utah adoption law allows biological mothers to put their babies up for adoption without notifying the biological father.
In order to keep Kaylee, Nielsen needed to file paternity action, an affidavit and a commencement notice with Utah’s vital records a day before the mother signed the adoption papers, relinquishing her rights. But in this case, as in many others, Kaylee’s mother only gave him a few hours notice of what she intended to do.
Nielsen said his girlfriend was influenced by her religious parents, who were upset that the child had been born out of wedlock.
Even though Nielsen was sure he had convinced her to let him raise Kaylee on his own, she signed the the adoption papers without telling him, relinquishing parental rights to a couple that is friends with her parents.
Utah Senator Todd Weiler called this an “unfortunate situation,” but he said “this is the way it has been for unmarried fathers in Utah for decades.”
But Nielsen’s lawyer is confident his client will get Kaylee back, either by changing the legislation, or even taking this case to the Supreme Court.
http://www.aol.com/article/2015/11/23/newborn-daughter-given-up-for-adoption-without-paternal-consent/21271450/
“Nielsen said his girlfriend was influenced by her religious parents, who were upset that the child had been born out of wedlock.”
That seems like an unlikely reason for a Mom to give up her baby, and I think she’ll regret that decision for the rest of her life.
There should be a mandatory waiting period that has to elapse before a baby can be put up for adoption to prevent things like this from happening as a result of postpartum depression, or other emotional disturbances that can accompany childbirth.
Yes Jolly you are correct. I’ve known women who gave up their babies for adoption in their late teens or early twenties and to this day, 30 years later, they are still heartsick about their decision.
Unless there are extenuating circumstances, adoption and abortion for convenience tear a woman’s soul apart.
Better check the guys pants too…for some reason, I don’t think the right parts are there…..
“… a technical reading of the Utah adoption law allows biological mothers to put their babies up for adoption without notifying the biological father.”
The so-called ‘government’ has NO RIGHT to make ANY ‘laws’ concerning parents’ rights where their children are concerned!
All those involved in stealing that child from him should be shot dead, just as any kidnappers should.