Under Alabama law, the only means available to a parent to terminate his or her obligation to support a child or children is to terminate his or her rights as a parent. Alabama law provides a means by which parents rights may be terminated for cause, such as if the parent is abusive. However, the majority of cases involving the termination of parental rights are through adoption, such as when a child is placed for adoption or when a stepparent adopts the child of his or her spouse.