Step parent adoption?

I've only seen it with one of my friends and the other parents had to give up their rights... so i am not POSITIVE but that's what they were told.... GOOD LUCK, what a happy union! =)

I was adopted by my step dad (I hate calling him that) when I was 14. I remember the process took forever, but that's about it.

My cousins husband just adopted her son. The bio dad had to give up rights. They had to have a lawyer to handle it all. All states are different. But it was a fairy easy process. I cant remember the exact cost but it was around 3 or 4 thousand for the whole process. The bio dad did not put up a fight at all. The son got a whole new bith certificate and now its like the bio dad never was. Good luck

The other parent Has to give up their rights, or have passed on. That is really the only universal rule. All others are purely reliant on your state and even county laws. Especially when it comes to cost.

Thanks girls! I don't think it'll be as long as we were expecting(yay!) both the other parents gave up their rights already and we have a court date in October. But who knows, I guess I'm afraid it'll just take longer? The only thing I'm really hating is that the communication with our lawyer isn't as good as I had hoped.

Just wanted to hear other experiences.

Aw, Ashley! I think about it and my dad adopted my brother when he was really young and it's so weird to think about him as anything other than my brother's dad.

Melissa, that's great! Do you know how long it took for them?

Once the bio dad signed the papers they had to wait 30 days to give him the chance to change his mind. (yall can skip this part)

Then they had to wait on a court date and it took 2 weeks for them but they live in a small town. Once they got into court it was said and done in 15 min

Just called her and asked lol

Thank you so much!! That makes me really excited that it's all going to be done October 13th! The sheriff just stopped by the house this morning to tell us about the court date. Woohoo!

My FH wants to adopt my two boys after we get married but my situation is a little different being that the real father is a dead beat and has not seen his kids in three years now.. And Im not sure if he will be as willing to sign over rights without being an ass. But I figured the courts will see it as abandonment and take them and give them to my FH regardless. Im hoping the process doesnt cost anywhere near 3 thousand but I would pay anything to have My FH be legally their father.. Good luck Jamie with court.. Court always made me nervous when I went for Child support issues.

Jamie I hope that it goes smoothly and fast for you! You have to let me know how it goes, fingers are crossed for yall

I would do anything for my older son and daughters bio dad to sign over rights but he wont. He likes having "trophys" but dont want to be a dad.

FH has been their dad and does everything with them and for them. He treats them exactly the same as he does our daughter we have together.

Tina my advice would be to get a lawyer, a good one that shows he\she cares and push and push. Get a good lawyer and let them have the nerves for you. I wish you the best of luck too!

My DH is wanting to adopt my little girl, but like Tina S. my daughter's real father is a dead beat & is controlling so he will never willingly give up his rights, but he doesnt support or have any contact with her. I've read a little about it & I dont know if its the same in every state but i know in NC they try to contact real father & if there is no effort or contact, they will remove his rights & then the adoption can proceed.

My husbands father adopted my husbands older brother when his parents got married and being part of this family now you would never know he wasnt blood. I heard when my husband found out that his dad wasnt his brothers real dad (he was about 10) he was heartbroken :-(

I usually support fathers having their rights but there are times when the kids are just better off not knowing them. A lot of men dont understand it takes more than sperm or a small child support check to be a daddy. My Fh didnt have kids until mine and he stepped straight in and has been more of a dad to them than their bio has ever been. The bio is also to selfish to do whats right for the kids. My son has already said that if he wont sign over rights he will just wait till he can legaly change his name to FH's.