Cincinnati, OH asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Kentucky

Q: Hello, I am trying to get help with adopting the little boy I currently have permanent custody of.

His mother is a friend from high school, I have had him from birth, he is now 15 months old. I want to adopt him and make him legally my child.

Mom said she is willing to terminate her rights but the father will not. He has never been around, he is on drugs and has multiple EPOs against him, he also has a cps case for an older child that I also have custody of but mom wants him back when she gets her life together. I need to know how can i start this adoption process and get dads rights terminated involuntary.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Kristin Michelle Russell
PREMIUM
Kristin Michelle Russell
Answered
  • Family Law Lawyer
  • Covington, KY
  • Licensed in Kentucky

A: Good morning, you need to hire an adoption attorney to petition the family court where you live to adopt and simultaneously terminate the parental rights of the birth parents. Based upon the information you’ve provided, it does not sound as if the birth father’s consent would be required because he has abandoned the child and failed to provide parental care and protection for the child with no reasonable expectation of improvement.

1 user found this answer helpful

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Louisville, KY
  • Licensed in Kentucky

A: Hire an adoption lawyer to file a Petition to Adopt/Terminate. You will have to have a hearing unless dad defaults. If mom is on board, that’s half the battle.

1 user found this answer helpful

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