Third, there was no suggestion by either parent, that Weber was seeking termination of his parental right merely to avoid child support. This evidence provides adequate support for the district court s conclusion. Accordingly, we affirm the voluntary termination of Weber s parental rights. Appellant argues that the district court s finding of abandonment was not supported by substantial evidence. Under Minnesota law, a parent s rights may be involuntarily terminated if it is found that the parent has abandoned his child.
Abandonment takes place where there is an intention to forsake the duties of parenthood.
A biological father s failure to visit the child, a refusal to accept responsibility for the child, and a failure to provide financial or emotional support to the child demonstrates an intention to forsake the duties of parenthood and provides a basis for the termination of parental rights. See id . When making a termination decision, the court is to rely not primarily on past history, but to a great extent upon the projected permanency of the parent s inability to care for his or her child. In re Welfare of S.Z . Applying these principles, there is substantial evidence in the record to support the district court s determination that Weber had abandoned R.M.S. Weber has never seen R.M.S., nor provided financial support to R.M.S. Further, Weber testified that he does not want to see, nor provide for, R.M.S. unless requested or ordered to do so.