Q: Can the rights of a non-custodial parent be taken away without having someone adopt her to "legally" be her father?
My daughters father has abandoned her, i'm remarried, but do not have the funds to pay adoption fees for my husband to legally adopt her. Non-custodial parent hasnt had any contact in almost 5 years, my husband has been her "dad" for the past 8 years.
A: His rights can only be terminated by action of the State (for example, in a OCS proceeding) or for purposes of an adoption. In this case, your husband can adopt the child, most likely without the father's consent. Intrafamily adoptions generally are not as expensive or complicated as a private adoption.
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