I been with my girl since my (step)son was 2 months old, He is 4 now and we plan on getting married later this year for her birthday. How do I go about adopting him if there's no biological father at all? Do I got to get a lawyer for this? and are there cheap lawyers for stuff like this?
2007-08-06 06:50:35 · 9 answers · asked by marcus w 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Where in Texas , 45 minutes outside houston. my (step)son was 2months old when i meet my girl. He is 4 years old now.
2007-08-06 07:09:01 · update #1
My husband adopted my two children so I know the laws here fairly well. They vary from state to state, but in general, you will need to get a lawyer to file all the papers for you. Usually this will require that you make a good faith effort (and the judge decides if you have met this obligation) to find the child's biological father to get permission. If you do find the father, chances are he will sign off his rights immediately and you won't have a problem there. Even if he refuses to do so, since he hasn't been in the child's life he won't have a leg to stand on in the eyes of the court. If you can't discover the real father's identity, you will have to pay for an attorney ad lidum to represent his interests in the court (and of course that is significantly more expensive). You will also have to wait for at least a year after you are married before you can start the process. The court may also order that social services investigate your home and your relationship with the child, but since you have been in the child's life this long, you may be able to skip this step. The process took 5 months for us, but if you can't find the father it will probably take longer for you. It cost us about $1500. Good luck getting all this done. Email if you have any other questions.
2007-08-08 17:10:07 · answer #1 · answered by missbeans 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, of course there IS a biological, but I guess he's just not around. The mother has to take the initiative on this, because the lawyer (yes, you will need a lawyer - check the yellow pages to see if any advertise adoption services) will need to find out exactly who the father IS, since they will have to take steps to get him to "sign away" his parental rights (even if he and the mother weren't married) - often that requires a threat to seek child-support payments. It might even require posting notices in newspapers, otehr public forums, if the father can't be located. Finally, you will have to go to court - always best to have a lawyer with you; gives the judge a warm-fuzzy about your commitment to the child - because you swear to support the child throughout its life, if necessary. This is not just a romantic gesture on your part, so you better be really serious.
P. S. I think you need to be married, first.
2007-08-06 06:58:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say he is one lucky 4 year old boy.
He is lucky that his mom found such a wonderful person.
I always said it takes more to be a dad than just a sperm donor. My husband step father also adopted him when he was 2. He was a wonderful man also. To my husband he is his father period. Show him love and you will get it back tenfolds from him. Have a wonderful day dad.
Owe sorry I don't know about if you will need a lawyer or not, but I don't know how else you can do it. good luck
2007-08-06 07:00:22 · answer #3 · answered by regina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband adopted my 8 yr old son who did not have a biological father on the birth certificate. We used an attorney and he placed a notice in a legal newspaper in our city asking for the biological father of child with said mother to present himself as the father because so and so was looking to adopt the child. No one claimed to be the father and we went ahead with the adoption. If someone had claimed to be the father then they need edto pass a paternity test. This is very common today. Look in your city's business newspaper (in my city it is called the Daily Business Review) and you will be able to find similar notices. Call one of the attorney's and explain your situation. It took us about 3 months for it to be processed. You will need to appear before a judge. My son went to court with us and he was really happy. All this happened right before X-mas so it was extra special. Good luck.
2007-08-07 15:53:04 · answer #4 · answered by MiaMom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is a father on the birth certificate, it can get a little complicated. If not, there should not be a problem. The law surely varies from state to state. You should get a lawyer and it may cost 1000 or under.
2007-08-06 06:55:06 · answer #5 · answered by Layla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is four and children grow on you and if youve been in his life since he was two months than he is your son. I commend you for steping up even if you guys wernt getting married Im sure you would do the same its not about the mother its about the child and once you guys get married anyway the child will be legally yours. You just have to go to your counties birth records department and add your name to the birth certificate as the father. The rest will follow, the county will usually follow up with you and handle most of it for you.
2007-08-06 07:05:18 · answer #6 · answered by jwilliamsinvestments 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would check out the laws in the state you live. They should be available online, as well as commentary. Findlaw.com is a great place to start. Then - you'll know if you need a lawyer or if you can file on your own.
2007-08-06 06:55:17 · answer #7 · answered by Answer Queen 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Trust me not a good idea to adopt right away.
If you 2 break up you will have to pay child support to one that doesnt' even belong to you. Just love the child and if you feel really good that the marriage is forever.. then think about adoption in 4 or 5 years from now.
2007-08-06 06:54:14 · answer #8 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋
the question should be do you really want to be with someone who can't figure out who she slept with to get pregnant in the first place?
2007-08-06 06:55:53 · answer #9 · answered by kaya3737 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋