Stepparent Marriage Adoption Law

Step-parent adoption?

No and yes.

No court will "bastardize" a child. Meaning, your new husband will have to adopt your daughter in order for your ex to be able to terminate his parental rights (and child support obligations). The Courts feel like a child should have a a mother and father and that you each are responsible for taking care of her financially. For example: if you get receive welfare benfits from the state (child care assistance, food stamps, medicaid) and your ex is not paying child support, then the State will go after him to collect past child support for the money it spent on your child. The state wants for her "father" whether it be biological or adoptive to support her.

I'm sure you've discussed this with your attorney, but once your husband adopts your daughter, she will legally be his child and if the two of you divorce, he will have just as much right to her as you do. Meaning, he will get visitation or could get custody of her. However, that does not necessarily sound like a bad thing.

Regarding a step-parent adoption?

Ok, here is the basic background information. My daughter is 3. Her bio-father has had no contact with us since she was a day old and he didn't sign the birth certificate. Paternity has not been determined and he has paid no child support. Also we live in different states.

Now can someone give me the basic steps that I need will need to take in regards to a step-parent adoption?

I already know I need to consult a lawyer, but I'd also like to know if there is anything I need to specifically bring up with them?

Do we really have to go through the trouble and cost of a paternity test? I know it is a waste of money (he is the only one) and would really like this to go as smoothly and inexpensively as possible for everyone (he has since gotten married and has another child). I've been told that some states have forms can be signed to acknowledge paternity without the test.

Is proof of paternity really required if we tried to terminate his rights based off abandonment? I've been told that he can't abandon a child that hasn't been legally determined as his, but we both know she is his.

Also, does anyone have any idea how long all of this will take? I'd like to know least amount of time anyone has known of to the longest it has taken.

I just want to know what to expect before we start all of this. Thanks for the help.

What are the pros and cons of step-parent adoption?

Although step-parent adoption allows a child to be eligible for everything that the step-parent's biological children can receive (inheritance, medical insurance and the like,) there are also downsides.

For example, if a couple divorces, the former step-parent, now parent, is subject to everything any biological parent must follow. This includes child support, possible continuation of medical coverage, continuation of inheritance rights. What problems may arise if this parent now feels that since this isn't his/her biological child, why should s/he have to continue these requirements of parenthood. The ultimate problem can be that this adoptive parent may rather give up parental rights in order to "divorce" the child, since s/he is divorcing the natural parent.

Can a step-parent adoption be reversed after divorce?

Dick and Jane have a baby out of wedlock, and when that baby is around two years old, Jane marries Harry.

Dick has been paying child support but denied visitation those two years, with lawyers slowing the process down.

Harry petitions to adopt the child and adoption is granted, with Dick's approval, since the child has known Harry as dad. Child support takes months to cease, and all adoption fees are forwarded to Dick to pay. Jane is very money driven.

Several years later, out of the blue, Jane contacts Dick wanting him to see the child, now 10. Dick has a sneaking suspicion Jane's marriage to Harry is on the rocks and she is looking for an opening to reinstate child support from him, and reverse the adoption of their child, making him financially responsible again.

Is this a possibility? Does Jane stand a chance in court? Should Dick be cautious with this?

Is Second Adoption an option for underaged , married couple with kids ?

My girlfriend is currently pregnant with twins she surprised me and she did the virtro fertitality treatment with a guardians consent im the non genetic partner she is 16 i am 16 i turn 17 on May 22nd , where going to gretna green in scotland on May 23rd to get married , shes due in late july early august , the donor is anonymous , we live in Pennsylvannia , i was just wondering is there anyway being this young and gay that we can share custody over our babies ? I dont need any rude comments about how young we are , or any of that unneeded info , maturity levels are high , and tolerance for bullshit is low , im not being rude but im just see alot of people comment rude things and we dont need any negativity . Thank you

Can a step parents adopt their step child without the biological parents permission?

I am from Florida but living in the Bahamas (my husbands home) right now. Before I met my husband I had a son with my high school boyfriend (never married). He did sign the birth certificate and pay child support for a year or so. My son is now 5. His biological father has nothing to do with him and owes 7 grand in child support. My husband is the only father he knows. My husband and I also have a 2 year old daugher and we have been married for 3 years. We are having a hard time getting my son insurance through my husbands workplace because he is not his legal guardian. I asked my sons biologiccal father to sign over rights, but he won't even speak to me. I am going to meet with a lawyer when I go back to the, but until then I am just curious on if the adoption is even possible without his permission.