Stepdad Adoption

[Jaymi0811]

I recently got married to the father of my second son, he is wanting to adopt my first son (Ty). We are not sure of the steps that we need to take for this. My first sons father has not been around since I was three monthes pregnant with Ty. His name is not on Tys birth certificate as the father. He has never tried nor seen Ty either. (Ty is now 8) I have only seen his father once when I ran into him while out with friends. I have made it easy for him to reach me if he wanted to see his son. I still have the same phone number and my parents still live right down the street from where his parents lived, so its not like I have been hiding TY. He has never offered to see him and there has been no financial help at all. From what I know he has been in and out of jail the last eight years and I am not sure where he is living now. What do I need to do to allow my husband to adopt Ty?

 

[jacksgal]

You will most likely need to make an attempt to contact the Father get a paternity test to prove he is Father. Then ask him to sign a TPR (Termination of Parental Rights). Once thats doen your husband can adopt. Contact your local Family court and they will explain what you need to do. However it would be best if you did this with an Attorney

 

[jharris352]

Jacksgal is right with her advice. If he refuses to sign (it doesn't sound like he will), you can bring an action to forcibly terminate his parental rights for several reasons but mostly for abandonment. You will probably have to prove he is the biological father in either case like Jacksgal states.