Get free answers to your Adoption legal questions from lawyers in your area.
answered on Jun 11, 2018
Have you tried the Prothonotary's Office in the Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County? They may even have some forms online for your use. Try the Orphans' Court there as well. Best of luck to you.
Their bio dad hasn’t seen them in almost 4 years and when he decides to it’s far and few between the last. My daughter is 15 and asked if my husband can adopt her and her brother. He has been raising them for 8 years.
answered on May 21, 2018
The children's bio dad can voluntarily agree to terminate his parental rights or you can file with the court to have them involutarily terminate. The termination and adoption procedures are complicated and paper intensive so I suggest that you consult with an experienced family law attorney in... View More 
My name Alexa herring the little girl who sexually assault by the man at froster care in PA
answered on May 15, 2018
Yo appear to be the child ASH so I have no idea what you're asking. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1985749/in-re-adoption-of-ash/
CYS only involved in my son’s life because of his Mother...however now I too am in a difficult situation w/ CYS. I have NO criminal record, nice apt, steady job & could have taken my son but they put him in foster care and my visits be supervised. It is/was really tough. I have a terrible... View More
answered on May 5, 2018
You have a limited time within which to file and appeal. I strongly urge you to consult with an attorney experienced in appellate work, particularly dependency cases if possible, as well as to find a way to pay for the attorney. Don't miss the appeal deadline - you've already got enough... View More
The parents rights are terminated on older children and parents want to start over. Is child services allowed to alert hospital to let them know the baby is born to come and take the baby even if mother has done nothing yet against new baby?
answered on Apr 20, 2018
I don't believe so - at least I've never heard of such a thing. It's not like hospital delivery rooms have a board in the hallway with pictures of folks saying, "Don't let any of these parents leave with their babies." Like some stores have on cash registers... View More
My fiance and I are getting married in a couple of months. My fiance has been in my daughter's life since she was 4. Her biological father has not been in her life since she was 2. His name is not on her on birth certificate.
answered on Feb 20, 2018
To a certain extent, it varies from county to county. If the father doesn't voluntarily sign away his parental rights, then the involuntary termination of his rights will be an additional cost. Some counties really discourage people from trying to handle an adoption, particularly one... View More
Idont know where are the parents they abanden the child i been providing for the child sense he was born what would happend what would they ask me ?? I dont want him to get taken away he sees me as his parent hes only 1 yrs old
answered on Feb 16, 2018
Yoiu'd better sit down with an experienced family law attorney to discuss this. This is a complicated situation that cannot be answered in this question and answer online forum.
My biological father has never had a relationship with me and has just been in and out when convenient for him. I just want to eliminate the relationship completely and have my stepfather who has been here as a constant for me for 18 years and my sons grandfather for the last 6 years.
answered on Feb 9, 2018
Yes, you can. This is probably the simplest type of adoption in PA. In an adult adoption, you would need to consent to your stepfather adopting you. There is no requirement that parental rights be terminated. There will be a judgment search, finger-printing, and a few other hoops to jump through,... View More
He refuses to sign his rights over but has once agreed to it admitting he has never been there for her. My husband is the only man shes ever known and she starts school soon. Can i change her last name to our family name even if her biological father still has some rights ? Again he is a drug... View More
answered on Feb 4, 2018
I suggest that you consult with a family law attorney experienced in adoptions. From what you've said here, if your husband is willing to adopt your daughter, you may be able to have the father's parental rights terminated. To just change her name, you''ll need to file a... View More
me an my husband are married islamically and he might be facing prison time. he has an 8year old son whom he has been taking care of on his own since he was 2 because the birth mother didnt want him. she put him out in the winter with only a pamper on. I have been a mother to him for the last 3... View More
answered on Feb 3, 2018
Under the circumstances you've set forth, yes, you absolutely can. If possible, having both parents sign an agreement giving you custody would be ideal. Then you could follow your local procedures for filing the agreement and having it made a court order. Please note that just having a signed... View More
Adoption was finalized jan 10, 2018. I take care of her and she lives with me but my aunt is the adopted parent that lives at a different address
answered on Jan 31, 2018
That's an interesting question. There's a legal principle called standing and it's unclear from your question whether you could have standing. You best bet is to consult with an experienced family law attorney in your area where you can discuss in person and in depth your situation.... View More
answered on Jan 30, 2018
I'd like to assure you that no, you wouldn't, but it could be more complicated than that. I suggest that you meet in person with an experienced family law attorney to discuss the entire situation.
In the four years my daughter has been alive her biological father was never involved besides minimal visits, lack of phone calls, no child support, and shows no interest. He is not on the birth certificate.
answered on Jan 30, 2018
If all is as you say, then you should be able to successfully terminate the father's parental rights involuntarily and have your husband adopt her as her stepparent. It's not an easy process and, in fact, some counties won't deal with involuntary terminations of parental rights... View More
I use to watch a child because the mother never took care of her child, I called services on her so many time because the mother would never take care of her child but after time I could no longer see the child the mother took her and was hiding and then now one person is going to court to get... View More
answered on Jan 30, 2018
I'm not sure there's anything you can do but I do suggest that you consult in person with an experienced family law attorney to discuss this matter in detail. It's a bit unclear from what you've written but I'm sure in a face to face meeting it will all come out.
Custody was set around 4 and half years ago it is 50/50 mother as primary guardian, she has mental issues,and a drug addict,and pays no support at all
answered on Jan 3, 2018
You can petition the court for a modification of your current custody order. Your child's mother will have an opportunity to object to the modification; if that is the case it will likely be up to the judge to decide if modification of custody is in the best interest of your child.... View More
answered on Dec 17, 2017
Are you married to the mother? How long have you have custodial rights? How old is the child? Did you sign the birth certificate? I could go on and on, but instead strongly urge you to consult in person with an experienced family law attorney in your area to determine what you options are after... View More
Her biological father Has been paying child support for 6 yrs and I have soul Custody
answered on Dec 9, 2017
Possibly. Whatever it was that that the bio dad signed is old and if he doesn't want to give up all of his rights now, ypu'll have to proceed with an involuntary termination. Although paying child support over the last 6 years is not performing much of a parental duty, some courts may... View More
The baby was born in S.C I live in PA. She has had her parental rights terminated for her other two children.
answered on Nov 4, 2017
Yes, there is the possibility that she can get the child back if she gives you guardianship. I'm not sure what you mean "without legal help". If you mean does she have to go through the court system, it would require that an attorney review the guardianship papers to determine f she... View More
The other set of grandparents are now saying they are going for visitation. They had very little contact with grandchild before the adoption by their own child's choice. They said if they don't succeed in getting visitation, they will have their daughter claim we forced her to consent to... View More
answered on Oct 5, 2017
When a parent's rights are terminated so are those stemming from the parental relationship. So the grandparents, aunts and uncles are all no longer legally related to the child either.
My daughters and sons bio father has supervised visits only and has had not contact in over a year how do i get his rights taken so that my husband can adopt her? He is listed as father on my daughters birth certificate but not on my sons.
answered on Oct 5, 2017
You file a petition to have the court terminate them. That petition would be filed in conjunction with a petition seeking adoption by your husband. Many counties expect that you have an attorney represent you during these proceedings so it's my recommendation that, before you do anything... View More
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