Step Father Adoption

What is the best way to go about step parent adoption?  Her father has not seen/contacted her in more than a year, does not pay his hild support and her step father has been all that she knows in 5 out of her 7 short years

[avisg]

adoption laws are different in every state .Your best bet is to contact a local lawyer and ask . In NY state the father has to not see the child for 14 years before the legal rights can be taken away .Now of course if you can get her BF to give rights up then it would make it much easier. Good Luck
avis

[ko19]

I did the same thing. I contacted a lawyer and with guidance we contacted my ex and notified him of our intention. We didn't have to do this, but I choose to b/c I didnt' want more drama and wanted to 'feel' him out. We waited until my son was old enough to understand the process and her in Canada he needed to see an independent lawyer that would explain very clearly what would happen.
Long story short. My husband is now his 'offical' father. He is now on his birth certificate and this meant alot to him. To mee it was just a formality he was always his real father. But, now easier to travel and my son feels proud to have been included in the process.

[tiffany2008]

I am in Louisiana and in my state if the birth father has not seen, not payed child support, or not had any contact with the child for 6 consecutive months a step parent can adopt.  What happens though is they send the natural parent a letter then go to court.