Get free answers to your Adoption legal questions from lawyers in your area.
My son's biological father isn't on the birth certificate and no paternity has been established. I haven't heard from him in over a year at which point he told me never to contact him again regarding our child. He's been in prison for the last 8 month's. Can my fiance adopt... View More 
answered on Aug 13, 2018
Step-parent adoptions usually require the parents to have been married for six months first. Otherwise, you meet the requirements for adoption. Get married first, and then after six months, contact an adoption attorney in your area to assist you.
My husband is divorced, and has a step child from the previous marriage. Her biological dad is not in the picture, and my husband has always been "Dad" to her. Her mother is on board with us adopting her. The mother is wanting part-time contact. This seems like a really unique situation... View More
answered on Apr 24, 2018
This would be a fairly straightforward adoption if mom is consenting and it's what the child wants. If the child is over fourteen, she will need to formally consent as well. The biological father would have to be notified/served in some way and if he either consents or does not respond, then... View More
I am about 40k in debt due to child support. I have supervised visits(2-3hr drive) one hr a week from a 2007 court order. I can't afford to remodify custody or child support payments. It cost me over a $100 every week to see him in gas alone. I have to choose when i can see him b/c i might... View More
answered on Apr 23, 2018
You can't terminate your rights without someone else to take your place, like a step -parent adoption. However you may be able to modify the order to reflect a no contact, no support agreement. Such an order would not get rid of the arrears; you would still owe it, but it would get rid of... View More
answered on Apr 8, 2018
It doesn't really matter if your ex is behind in child support or not. You and your husband will need to have been married for six months, and if uncontested, your ex needs to simply not respond to the petition, or voluntarily terminate rights. However, if he contests the adoption, you will... View More
We have legal guardianship of our grandson. A visitation schedule for his maternal grandparents was attached by the court to the guardianship. His mother is deceased and his father has signed over parental rights to us. Could the court attach visitations or grandparents rights for the maternal... View More
answered on Mar 27, 2018
It would be unlikely. Adoptions legally sever original blood ties, and set up new ones under the law. So if you adopt your grandson, legally he speaking he becomes your son. Talk to an attorney about your adoption options.
Currently my girlfriend is away at basic training for the army reserves. Once she gets back she is lookking to get custody of her sister from her abusive mother. I'm looking for where I need to start looking to do the research required so that when she returns she can start this process.... View More
answered on Feb 27, 2018
Your girlfriend will want to talk to an attorney local to her and her sister about seeking a child guardianship.
6 year old child living with a family the mother of the child has a boyfriend in the family! The mother basically abandoned the child an has been on the streets doing herion for the past 2 years ! She is now incarcerated an the head of the family watching him has died an has a huge trust!! Nothing... View More
answered on Feb 19, 2018
No, the trust cannot be challenged. Though the family head seemed to be doing mother a favor by caring for the child in the first place, it does not sound as though this family is actually responsible for the child. While in state custody, it is the states responsibility to care for the child;... View More
The address I had for him was incorrect. I tried having him served other papers prior to filing adoption. He couldn't be served at that address. So when we filed adoption, we ran an add in the paper instead of trying to serve him. Child support garnishment has stopped so now he got a lawyer to... View More
answered on Feb 3, 2018
It is not your obligation to know his address. It is his obligation to inform you of his address. The fact that his hasn't been involved and failed to keep you updated so that you could serve him personally goes in your favor. Talk to an attorney local to you who does contested adoptions.
answered on May 1, 2017
If a child is adopted, then the previous parent's rights are terminated. Additionally, once a child becomes the legal child of a person that person becomes responsible for their care, custody, and support. Essentially, all obligations transfer to the new parent. However, it may be possible... View More
Had her for over 2 years. We are the only mommy and daddy she has known. Her mother has only seen her on 2 different occasions and both times was only for a few hours. Her mother is from Texas and had 2 other children taken away by CPS which her last one was under aggravated circumstances because... View More
answered on Apr 6, 2017
You are likely eligible for adoption now and I would encourage you to meet with a family law attorney in your area immediately.
He has never had anything to do with my son and now he is dead
answered on Feb 18, 2016
Probably not. Unless the biological father has given up his parental rights. A child only gets to have two parents. If the biological father still has parental rights, then the child can't be adopted. If the rights HAVE been given up, then he doesn't need to be involved at all.
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