[tman701]

Hi,

I just found this site and had a question.

My wife and I have been raising my nephew since he was about 10 mos old. His mother pretty much disappeared from the picture and his father, who is my brother, has been in and out of Prison several times.
Before his mother left she told us she didnt trust anyone else to raise him but us, my brother feels the same way. We have not really talked about adoption but its pretty clear what direction we have to take.

My biggest problem is that he is now approaching his 5th year and the legalities of school are fast approaching. As it is we do not have any legal rights or say so in any of his affairs. We figured that adoption is the only way to be fully 100% legal in this case.

However, when my nephew was born his parents forgot to put his fathers name on the birth certificate. So even if my brother agrees to let us adopt him he isnt named in the birth certificate as his birth father, no one is. We cant find the mother so that makes it tougher.

Im kind of lost as to what direction to take, any help or advice is greatly appreaciated.

Joel