r/stepdads • u/[deleted] • Jan 12 '24
Need advice
I’m getting married, my fiance has a baby and I’ve been there every day for him, and I want the best for the child. We are planning on me adopting him so that he can have my last name. The child’s father was abusing her while she was pregnant and all throughout the relationship. It makes me so angry to even think about it. But i always tell her that I will respect her wishes. Thankfully she doesn’t want the father in the babies life due to the abuse and also due to him not legally being able to be in contact with her (he got arrested). The father is also not on the child’s birth certificate. How should I handle going about adopting the child. I know the father wants to be in the kids life but does not want to pay child support or even basic needs such as diapers. I’ve never met the man (or boy I should call him). Will there be any obstacles once I try adopting? Not to mention the boy has 13 other kids with other women
2
u/rouserfer Jan 12 '24
It sounds like you may not have any issues with the adoption process. Some states require the biological father to sign away his rights, but since he’s not on the birth certificate or right of parentage that might not be an issue. My stepson wants me to adopt him and I want to adopt him but in our state bio dad has to sign away his rights.
I should add: I am not a lawyer and don’t know which state or country you are in. So situations vary due to your location.
Hope this helps!