Until a court orders otherwise, yes, your child's father still has rights.  However, those rights can be "relinquished (i.e. given up or taken away).  This can be done volubnartily (if the father agrees) or involuntarily (if the father does not agree). In MO, the grounds (i.e. reasons) for an involuntary relinquishment of parental rights in MO, are:Abandonment or Extreme Parental Disinterest Abuse/Neglect Mental Illness or Deficiency Alcohol or Drug Induced Incapacity Felony Conviction/Incarceration Failure of Reasonable Efforts Abuse/Neglect or Loss of Rights of Another Child Sexual Abuse Failure to Maintain Contact Failure to Provide Support Child's Best Interest Child in care 15 of 22 months (or less) Felony assault of child or sibling Murder/Manslaughter of sibling child For either type of parental relinquishment (voluntary/involuntary) a petition to terminate the parental rights of the child's parent or parents will need to be filed with the court.  For more information you can contact your local Department of Social Services.