I live in the state of Wisconsin (that may be pertinent to the information given), I live with my girlfriend, she has a four month old daughter. How I do I go about adopting her? And, how does this affect the biological father? What are the costs? What are my final duties as the adoptive father? Does he still pay child support? He is responsible for her anymore?
2007-03-26 03:55:53 · 15 answers · asked by Mike, Kate, Piper and Porter :) 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Well, for starters, if she is only four months old, then the two of you haven't been together for very long. You better give this alot of thought!
If the biological father is involved and/or his name is on the birth certificate, then you will have to have his cooperation.
Adopting this child means full responsibility for you. Including, if you guys split up....YOU will be paying child support. The biological father will be relieved of all of his responsibilities, including financial, forever.
This is a HUGE decision.....I know you want to be there for this child and your girlfriend, but think it over and go slow.
Where is the baby's father? You can't try and take away his rights if he is trying to be involved...if he loves and cares for and supports this child......let him.
If he doesn't......his loss.......but you shouldn't let him get away with it. He helped create this child and he should have to pay.
2007-03-26 04:06:43 · answer #1 · answered by Sunshine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also live in WI and have looked into this very situation.
At 4 months old, if paternity HAS NOT been established you can simply go to the child support office nad fill out a voluntary paternity statement which means you agree that this child is your responsiblilty NO MATTER WHAT. This means that if it doenst work out YOU are still responsible for the child. IF you go thru an adoption then you will pay a bunch of money and will have all the rights and responsibilities for that child. The biological father will have NO rights or responsibilities.
As much as i hate to say it, you have to give the biological father a say in the decision as it directly affects his future with his child. Although he may be a horrible father, he still has rights.
you need to really think about this. It is a major decision and you have no recourse should the relationship fall thru.
Good luck and god bless
2007-03-26 04:06:39 · answer #2 · answered by Tissa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally speaking - I don't know the specific rules in Wisconsin - if you adopt a child you take on ALL the responsibilities and duties of a natural parent, including financial responsibility. You become her father and agree to love and support her for life.
If her natural father signs her over to you for adoption he is essentially saying that she is now your child come what may. It will be up to you and the child's mother to decide whether - and if so how much - she has any further contact with her natural father.
Of course, once she's 18 she may decide to look for him anyway and there's not a lot you can do about that.
2007-03-26 04:03:08 · answer #3 · answered by Skidoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a person adopts a child, then all of that child's expenses become the responsibility of the adoptive parent. In the eyes of the law, adoption and biological parentage are identical.
In order to adopt your girlfriend's child, the biological father would have to either voluntarily or involuntarily have his parental rights terminated. At the point at which his parental rights would be terminated, he would no longer be responsible for child support - instead, YOU, as the adoptive father would become liable for child support if you and the mother were to separate for any reason in the future.
You will need to contact a lawyer in Wisconsin in order to begin the process. The lawyer should specialize in family law, and he/she will be able to guide you through the process.
Good luck to you.
2007-03-26 04:05:43 · answer #4 · answered by mom2trinityj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order for you to adopt him...parental right of the bio father must be terminated...whether it's relinquishment or court ordered. After that is done, you just need to contact an adoption attorney and file the paperwork. I am not sure on the cost of it...it can't really be that much...considering. Once the adoption is final, the child will get a new birth certificate with your name listed as the childs father! You will be responsible for everything...no more child support unless your relationship doesn't work out...then she could get child support from you!
2007-03-26 04:52:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The biological father would have to terminate his parental rights in order for you to adopt the child. That means he would have no more legal ties whatsoever and you would be legally responsible for the child in every way. Your duties would be the same as if she were your own child. If the father is paying child support and is in the childs life, I highly doubt he is just going to turn his child over to his ex's boyfriend for adoption.
Regardless of that, a lawyer must be involved.
2007-03-26 05:05:54 · answer #6 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you can adopt her daughter the father has to sign away all of his parental rights.....which is everything including child support.
Your duties as an adoptive father would be the same as if you were her biological father...which means if you and her mom were to split up you would be responsible for child support.
Look in your telephone book for family lawyers...they can better explain what steps need to be taken and how much it will cost.
2007-03-26 04:02:25 · answer #7 · answered by mom2ace 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
when you adopt the little girl you are assuming the role of te natural father. This means that the real father no longer has any realy duty to her. He does not have to pay child support because the state no loner looks at him as the legal parent. The second you sign that paper saying you accpet the role you are seen as the legal parent and there fore are to assume the role. If you and your girlfriend were to break up she would be able to take you to court for child support simply because you adopted this little girl. But when you adopt the natural father has to agree to sign away his rights as a guardian and legal parent of the child...if he is un-willing to do that then she would have to take him to court and show the court that he is an un-fit father and therefore should relinguish his rights and sign the child over to you.
2007-03-26 04:06:00 · answer #8 · answered by Mel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If is the same as here, once you adopt that child, she is yours....you are know responsible for her, and yes the child father can then sign away his parental rights and not have to do anything....also, if you adopt her, and then you and your girl spilt up, you are now responsible for paying child support, so I would not do it until you are married to her. The thing is, once you adopt, you are her father, and you know have all the responsiblities you would if you were heR biological father....
2007-03-26 04:17:43 · answer #9 · answered by yetti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to go through a lawyer. The natural father will be informed of the adoption. If he contests, you'll have to go to court.
By the way, you have to be married to your girlfriend before you can adopt.If you do adopt, you will be her father, all resposibility, both financial and otherwise will be yours, the same as if you were her biological parent.
2007-03-26 04:06:08 · answer #10 · answered by Amy Beware 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋