Stepparent Adoption

I have a question. When a stepparent adopts a stepchild, is he/she still called a stepparent or are they now called the mother/father?

Posted by: cmha at 06/04/2008 08:07 AM

I am doing my own step-parent adoption right now and it could not be easier. Granted I have the other parents consent to the adoption but from what I have read in some of the posts here today and knowing what I have read through the courts website, in the state of California if the biological parent does not make contact or financially support the child for one consecutive year, consent from the absent parent is not required to move forward with the adoption. They will have you file the adoption papers along with an abondonment form as well. Anyone who lives in CA and is going through this should visit the website http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ and go to the self help area and look through the types of step-parent adoptions and the required forms. You can even fill them out and print them from home. I have a great do it yourself step-parent adoption e-book that breaks every step down into great detail so there is no confusion about what steps you need to take. If interested just send me an e-mail and I will forward a copy to your e-mail address. Good luck!

Posted by: JenniferMaravilla at 05/29/2008 12:45 AM

my child is 11 years old his birth father has never had anything to do with him and mdoesnt want to pay child support and my husband wants to adopt him how do i go about that and how much does it cost? also birth dad already agreed to give him up

Posted by: pmmom81 at 04/18/2008 10:42 PM

Even though there is no name on the b/c, there is still a biological father involved. You will need to either have his legal rights terminated through the courts or ask him to voluntarily relinquish his rights. Even if you don't know where he is, there are legal steps that have to be followed in order to remove his rights. No court will allow an adoption to occur without the bio father being notified either through the newspapers, in person etc. Even then, if the bio father does not wish to relinquish his rights, unless he can be proved unfit, most courts will not remove his rights unvoluntarily. Not paying child support or not being involved in the child's life wouldn't necessarily be enough reason to relinquish his rights. They would make him pay child support etc. and not just remove his rights.

So, no..it's not a simple matter of adding your husband to the b/c and first the legal rights have to be removed, then a petition to adopt must be done. Then if an adoption is granted, the state actually amends the birth certificate and you get a new one. I believe during the adoption petition process is when you would do the name change so that when it's finalized, the new name is on the amended birth certificate.

I would contact a family attorney for a consultation since every state's procedures are different. They will be able to tell you how to go about this situation per your state laws.

Posted by: Crick at 04/10/2008 09:28 AM

I am wondering if anyone knows or anyone has done this. I have a 5 year old son and my husband wants to adopt him. On my son's birth certificate there is no father listed, so I do not know if we can just add him to the birth certificate or how this works? If anyone knows will you please let me know. Also I have no contact with the biological father and have not for 4 1/2 years and neither has my son. The only dad he knows is my current husband. Also if you can just add his name how would you go about changing his last name? Thank you in advance for your help.

Posted by: redncontrol at 04/09/2008 04:01 PM