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Arkansas Adoption Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Adoption for Arkansas on
Q: My sons biological father isn’t on the birth certificate. Can my husband adopt him without his consent?

My son is 3 years old. My husband has been in my sons life since he was 9 months old. My sons biological father isn’t on the birth certificate, I have never received child support and we haven’t heard or seen him in over 2 years.

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Jul 29, 2018

In Arkansas you will need the consent of the bio dad. Since he has not been in the child’s life and if his absence is voluntary then the court would most-likely hold that his consent is being withheld unreasonably and your husband should be able to adopt.

Make sure your husband has no...
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1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Arkansas on
Q: Can my husband have his parent rights terminated after 7 years no contact or child support?

My husband has been served paperwork. His ex-girlfriend's husband wants to adopt his biological daughter. The paper work says that he was classified as abandonment because he has not spoken with his daughter or paid child support in over 7 years. He has tried to see his daughter many times... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Jul 20, 2018

Get a real lawyer. You should not have to wait 3 weeks. Your husband will have some trouble but the mother will have some real trouble saying dad abandoned the child.

Jim Hensley

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Child Support for Arkansas on
Q: Can a ncp agree to sign over rights and not have to pay back child support in Arkansas?

My youngest son's dad just spent 65 days in jail due to non payment of child support. Within a few days of him getting out he contacted a family friend and wanted to get ahold of me And asked if I agreed to drop all back child support he would sign over rights to my son. Is this possible and... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Mar 19, 2018

This can be done with a single-parent adoption. It sounds odd but what you do is adopt your own child. This gets rid of the father and his rights. If the father will sign all the documents, we can get this done a few weeks. Fees are between $3ooo and $5ooo depending on what is needed.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: Ive been helping taking care of this little girl since she was 8 months at first it started with me just having her on

The weekends to help her mom out cause at the time she was a single parent and didnt really have that much support. Well through out the years i started keeping her more and more like during the week because mom was going through a hard time so i would buy her dieapers wipes food cloths you name if... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Feb 28, 2018

Very good with the facts you mentioned.

Jim Hensley

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: Can my ex legal become my son's father without me having to marry him?

My son is 10 years old. His biological has never been in the picture. When my son was 8 month's I met a man that adored him. Even though we are not together now he has been helping me with my son, takes him to school, spends weekends with him, everything a father should do. We were better as... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Feb 10, 2018

It is nice that you are considering your son's well-being over your self-interest. Lawyers don't see that too often. You have a couple options. The best is to have this man adopt your son. We will need to locate the biological father to sign off on the adoption. There are other... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: How do I go about this?

My husband cheated on me with another girl. She found out she's pregnant. Her and her husband doesn't want it. Her and her husband is willing to terminate their rights. She said when it's born she doesn't even want to hold it. I know for a fact it's my husband's baby.... View More

Skye Martin
Skye Martin
answered on Jan 27, 2018

I recommend seeking an attorney for a private adoption.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: For child abandonment do you have to file for terminated rights or is it automatic when they have no contact or support

My sons 3, his bio dad hasn't seen him since he was 3 months old, he's not on birth certificate and hadn't established paternity, my significant other wants to adopt him, but we're not married yet but plan to be, do I need to terminate rights or have they already been... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Nov 26, 2017

You have to file adoption papers. You do not have to be married. You can adopt the children yourselves. Or you can have your significant other adopt them. Expect total costs to be around $4000 to $5000 if you can't find the bio dad. $4000 if he will consent.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: I travel for work and need new husband to be able to make legal decisions for my son. Can he be named a legal guardian?

I travel extensively for work and would like to know my new husband can take care of my son while I am gone (medical, school, etc). Can we name him as a legal guardian as well or do we have to do adoption proceedings for him to be able to make these decisions? Birth father not listed on certificate... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Sep 12, 2017

There is nothing needed to get your child to school or for medical intervention. Adoption is an option but so is a power of attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Family Law and Juvenile Law for Arkansas on
Q: If I'm 16 and pregant I'll be 17 before i have the baby. Could my mom make me give my baby away?
James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Aug 9, 2017

No. It is your baby. If you are unable to care for the child, you may need some help. Help is available from many sources; i.e., church, father of the child, family members, etc. Your mother could get a guardianship over the child if you are unable to care for the child. Caring for the child... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Child Support for Arkansas on
Q: My grandchildren were removed by dcfs and place with us and my daughter gave us full custody can we adopt now

My daughter only wanted dcfs out of the way so she could still visit and her rights not be terminated

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Jun 29, 2017

Thank you for your inquiry. There are a few procedural issues we will need to consider but this is a good time to begin the adoption. Costs are around $4000. Let me know how I might help.

Jim Hensley

501.766.2770

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Divorce and Family Law for Arkansas on
Q: I paid a lawyer, got divorced. At court she wanted to terminate my rights of children, I adopted. Do I have to pay more

She hasn't signed my land deed yet nor reply on adoption case is she in contempt and was it wrong laywer charged more for doing nothing

Brandon M Haubert
PREMIUM
Brandon M Haubert
answered on May 23, 2017

You need to contact your lawyer. She is most likely in contempt to not signing over the land, but the kids are a separate issue.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption for Arkansas on
Q: Can my soon husband adopt my daughter without consent of biological if he has not paid child support

He was ordered to pay in May 2016 and hasn't willing paid at all garnishment of check of 68.24... then quit his job.. My soon to be husband wants to adopt my 14 month old he has been active since she was 4 months old.... Supported her since..

Stefan K. McBride
Stefan K. McBride
answered on Mar 17, 2017

If he has not paid child support or seen the child in one year, you may be able to get around his consent to the adoption.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Arkansas on
Q: I have had a child in my care for the past 6 years. I am not the childs biological father, the child was removed by DHS.

Do I have any legal courses I can take to get visitation rights to this child or have him returned to my care? The mother volunrary placed him with me when he was 2 and he is now 8.

Stefan K. McBride
Stefan K. McBride
answered on Mar 16, 2017

To your question on visitation rights: You should be able to get court-ordered visitation because you have stood in loco parentis to the child. You may also be able to get custody or even adopt the child, depending on the particular facts of your case.

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