stepparent adoption

[proudmom]

I have a daughter from a previous relationship. The biological father has never seen her or paid child support. My fiancee has been in my daughters life since she was 18 months old and she is now 6. We are getting married in August and have decided that since he is the only dad she know that we should make it legal. So anyway my questions are...what is the period we have to be married before we can do this in Indiana? Will the bio-father have a say in this since he has never seen her? where do i start?


any help is much appreciated

 

[jacksgal]

In most states judges like you to be married at least one year. However unless bio Dad releases his parental rights no adoption can take place. You need to discuss with Bio Dad the option of relasing his parental rights to child

 

[proudmom]

that may be a little easier than it sounds...to make a long story short he has been in and out of prison since i was 5 months pregnant with her and that all started because he beat me while i was pregnant. Anyway we have a protective order against him and i have no contact with him. In a case like that dont some judges considered him to be unfit???

 

[jacksgal]

Contact an Attorney as you may have a better chance than most due to his status as a convict

 

[proudmom]

thank you for your time!