Step-parent adoption.

Who has been through this?

DD's bio dad is on the Birth Certificate.
He has not contacted in a year as of this month, but I do not know an exact date.
I will go talk to a Lawyer after I finish school.
I think it is more likely after SO and I are married, which we plan on doing. Hopefully in the next couple years.
SO has been in LO's life for a year and a half.
He IS her dad.

Here in FL you have to be married for two years & bio dad has to sign away rights.

I haven't been through it but my sister tried getting her son's father to sign his rights over to her now DH. I am 99% sure you have to be married to the guy for him to be able to adopt your child.

For sure consult with a lawyer. They're gonna know exactly the laws in your state. It may take years but it doesn't hurt to find out what you need to accomplish in that time to get te ball rolling.

I was adopted by my "step" dad. In Wyoming you have to be married first. Then put an ad in the newspaper to get in contact with the bio father. Or you have to get him to sign over his rights

Quoting True Diva:" Here in FL you have to be married for two years & bio dad has to sign away rights."

From what I read MN law no contact after a year is considered abandonment and it is grounds for termination.
He pays CS but that is just because he was in contempt and now gets it taken right out of his check.

I would think he would sign his rights though, it would be $200 extra a month for him.

My cousin had to be married to the new guy and the birth father had to sign his rights over. If however you had no way of contacting birth father then I'm not sure how that would work. He willingly signed his rights over so it was an easy process for her

My husband adopted my son. The only way that could happen is if we were married already. Also, even though he was pretty much current on child support, he hadn't seen or had contact with my son in over 3 years, so the judge granted the adoption based on that. My ex didn't have to sign away rights....he wouldn't do it and he never showed up to court, so his rights were terminated.

Quoting lolajessup:" For sure consult with a lawyer. They're gonna know exactly the laws in your state. It may take years but it doesn't hurt to find out what you need to accomplish in that time to get te ball rolling."

My aunt is a criminal lawyer, but I think I am going to ask her if she knows anything at Christmas. I know she helped my uncle when it pertained to his son.
I know the first consult is free, so maybe I will think about doing that this Summer.

Quoting K&L's Mommy!:" My husband adopted my son. The only way that could happen is if we were married already. Also, even though ... [snip!] ... My ex didn't have to sign away rights....he wouldn't do it and he never showed up to court, so his rights were terminated."

I feel like DD's bio dad is going to try to fight it. Not that he has money to fight it. When we broke up I asked him if he would ever give up his rights, and he said that he would never, I am hoping things have changed in the last year.

Quoting bekksters :" My cousin had to be married to the new guy and the birth father had to sign his rights over. If however ... [snip!] ... birth father then I'm not sure how that would work. He willingly signed his rights over so it was an easy process for her"

I could always go to Walmart to see if he is working. But SO said that is not something I should ask him in person.

Quoting [JadeLee]:" I feel like DD's bio dad is going to try to fight it. Not that he has money to fight it. When we broke ... [snip!] ... him if he would ever give up his rights, and he said that he would never, I am hoping things have changed in the last year."

Yeah, my ex told me the same thing. So, I just let it lay for awhile....I just planned to not contact him or anything (I was going to let him contact first....he never did). When we did start the procedure, I never called him up to ask about him signing over rights or anything. My lawyer just sent him paperwork a couple times and he never responded. Then we set the court date, and there ya go. Do you guys have any contact right now?

<blockquote><b>Quoting [JadeLee]:</b>" I feel like DD's bio dad is going to try to fight it. Not that he has money to fight it. When we broke ... [snip!] ... him if he would ever give up his rights, and he said that he would never, I am hoping things have changed in the last year."</blockquote>

Some dads don't just to be spiteful  

Quoting [JadeLee]:" I could always go to Walmart to see if he is working. But SO said that is not something I should ask him in person."

I didn't bother asking. It had been over 3 years of no contact, so we just sent papers down to him. And like I said...he never responded, never showed up to court, so it was pretty easy. If he hasn't had any contact whatsoever in a long time, then it would be hard for him to convince the judge why he should still have rights.

<blockquote><b>Quoting [JadeLee]:</b>" I could always go to Walmart to see if he is working. But SO said that is not something I should ask him in person."</blockquote>


I wouldn't do it at his work.