Christopher Emanuel was ready to become a present father in his daughter’s life. However, the mother of his child slowly detached herself from him and secretly gave their daughter up for adoption. Upon discovering what had happened to his child, he fought hard to get his little girl back.
In 2014, a South Carolina man, Christopher Emanuel, made the headlines after he fought for the custody of his daughter, Skylar, who was put up for adoption without his permission. He didn’t think his daughter’s mother would give her away and only learned of the adoption after signing up on a registry.
In an interview with ABC News, the man revealed that he feared he would never set eyes on his daughter again as he fought in a lengthy court battle. He pooled his resources to prove he was an engaged father and ready to welcome his daughter when his then-girlfriend lied about their daughter’s birth.
According to Christopher, he was hurt and confused because he wanted to be there for his daughter. But, after hearing the news of his daughter’s adoption, the father turned to the Court system in Aiken County, where Skylar was born.
Christopher Emanuel Learned of His Daughter’s Adoption through the Responsible Fatherhood Registry
Under Southern Carolina law, an unmarried father could sign up on the responsible fatherhood registry — an online database through the Department of Social Services that lets the state know if a man has fathered a child.
A report revealed that Christopher added his name to the registry on February 4, 2014. Fifteen days later, the adoptive parents filed a motion to adopt Skylar. However, the South Carolina man was not included in the documentation as Skylar’s biological father despite being listed as such on the registry.
At the time, Skylar was already living in San Diego, California, with the prospective adoptive parents, where her name was changed. Christopher claimed that he had medical documentation that showed his daughter bore another name and was never legally adopted.
The friend looked into father’s rights in South California and stumbled upon the responsible father registry, an avenue for unwed fathers to be notified should their child be put up for adoption.
Rather than give up on his daughter, Christopher contested Skylar’s adoption. According to court documents, the man’s paternal rights were terminated without permission. He was desperate to do anything to get his daughter back, including adopting Skylar back with the help of his lawyers.
The Aiken County Judicial Court brought Skylar back home where she belonged. In 2015, Christopher began the “Sky Is The Limit” Foundation to educate fathers on their parental rights.
He aims to preserve responsible fathers’ rights and end predatory adoption trafficking that strips adopted children of their families, identity, and culture. The foundation also mentors parents amid a custody crisis. It also offers parenting classes and resources to willing fathers in need through “daddy dollars.”
In a similar story, a woman had two of her triplets put up for adoption. It wasn’t until years later that they reunited while in a mall.
