Emmanuel was unaware of his rights and did not register with the South Carolina Responsible Father Registry, which could have given him notice of any adoption or termination of parental rights proceedings. Despite his plans to move in with his girlfriend and support them, her mother refused to accept him and demanded adoption. Emmanuel left the meeting feeling reassured that his girlfriend had stood up for him, but he was unaware that she had agreed to give the baby to her mother if necessary.
Emmanuel shares his experience of discovering that his pregnant girlfriend had given their daughter up for adoption without his knowledge or consent. Despite their daily communication and her assurances that he could be present during the delivery, Emmanuel grew suspicious when she stopped attending doctor’s appointments and disappeared during an ice storm. He eventually learned that she had lied about the date of her most recent appointment and had already given birth and put their daughter up for adoption. Emmanuel was served with notice papers on February 22, 2014, informing him of an adoption proceeding in Greenville County, and he immediately drove there to file his objection.
Emmanuel, a man whose daughter was given up for adoption without his knowledge or consent, shares his efforts to contest the adoption proceedings. He was unaware of the adoption proceedings until a private investigator served him with a summons. Emmanuel drove to the adoption agency to hand-deliver his objection and took a picture as proof. The adoptive couple declined to comment on the specifics, but records show Emmanuel’s objection was acknowledged, and the adoptive couple filed legal documents without naming him as a party. Despite this, Emmanuel received notice of the adoption proceedings and was informed he had 30 days to object. The adoptive couple, who were interracial and had a long history of failed attempts to conceive, had adopted four times before, only to have the birth mothers change their minds. They wrote to Emmanuel, expressing their understanding and respect for each mother’s choice, but the disappointment was excruciating. The communication records show there were numerous exchanges between the adoptive couple and the agency, leading to a joint adoptive interview. Emmanuel’s girlfriend told the couple she was unable to parent the child but wanted post-adoption contact. The birth mother communicated with the adoptive couple every week, and everyone was pleased with the placement. The baby was born, and the adoptive couple took custody, but Emmanuel did not receive notice of the adoption until after it had taken place. According to the putative father registry statute, the attorney representing the adoptive parents must serve the putative father within 10 days of receiving their name. Emmanuel was served on the ninth day, but the adoptive couple did not name him as a party in their adoption papers. Emmanuel filed a complaint, and the adoption agency’s lawyer, Jennifer Moog, later confirmed that Emmanuel had visited her office on the evening of April 3rd.
Emmanuel recounts the emotional moment he received a text message confirming that he is the father of his baby girl, Skyler. After a heated court battle, during which Emmanuel had to prove his involvement in the pregnancy and his financial ability to support his child, the judge ruled in his favor and granted him custody. Despite the adoptive couple’s disappointment, they returned Skyler to Emmanuel as ordered. Emmanuel’s first months with Skyler were filled with typical new parent challenges, but he was determined to be both mother and father to his cherubic-cheeked, curly-haired daughter.
