Is there a way to adopt my stepson without a signature from his father?

by **freddie** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:43 am

My stepson father is nowhere to be found. It has been at least 7 years since they had contact. I need my son to have proper health insurance and wanted to know if there was a way by default to complete the adoption process in L.A. County

by **conlin** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:52 am

It actually happens more than you would think what you do is you file a suit affecting parent child relationship, get temporary orders that you are the child's gaurdian... let them know that the child was abandoned in your care. Tell them you want full rights and his fathers rights terminated. next they will ask you how to get in touch with him let them know you have no idea they will have you put something in the newspaper like an add letting the father know that there is a court date pending ( I know he will never see it but this is what they tell you to do) you go to all of your court dates if he doesn't show you get custody, and that is that. he would have to fight you in court for his child back but they most likely wont give it to him. This will also enable you to start collecting child support.

by **jerred77** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:54 am

Only in a court of law---by the Judge terminating his parental rights. This is not none very often. Contact in itself is not a good reason for parental termination. There is no default in place for such a thing.

by **arndell76** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:03 am

Most judges are aware that women lie. Hire an investigator. Even half-***#d investigators can find 90% of people in 4-8 hours of searching unless they are persons who live 'off the grid'.

That said, if you can prove abandonment, then I think CA's statute for stripping parental rights based on abandonment is 3 years. You need proof that he knew there was a child and that he knew the child was his. Generally, this involves having filed for child support, but I know of cases where the witness was the paternal grandmother.

by **leofric33** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:10 am

A judge can terminate parental rights, but the biological father may need to have the opportunity to contest. Talk to a lawyer and see what the laws are in CA. He should be able to let you know what kind of a chance you have.

by **bartolome34** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:13 am

you can give him proper health insurance with out adopting him.

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