unmarried single parent living in WA state required to file termination of parental rights papers against biological father

If your child is 4 1/2 years old, an affidavit of parternity was probably signed at the hospital which grants the Father parental rights, but not custodial rights. Even if he was not present, there still has to be a Father out there and paternity of the child needs to be established -- it doesn't matter if you were married or not, a Father still exists.If you indentified your child by giving him the Father's last name on the birth certificate, that is evidence of paternity which blocks you from changing his name without the Father's consent.