I don't know if I can be of any help.
We also live in CA and I am going through a similar case. The BF has been locked up for most of my daughters 3 and a half years of life. He has never paid child support and is a registered sex offender. He is now out on parole. And one of the terms is that he cannot attempt to make contact either through telephone or other means in order to have a relationship with a minor. We are working with an attorney for the reasons you mentioned, He is going to fight us just for the sake of his own pride not for the benefit of my daughter.
Anyway, We are filing under Family law code's 7822 and 7825. The definitions of these and other CA Family Law Codes can be found at this web site.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/ca...ebody=&hits=20
This may help you.
You can read more about my case on my other posts. So far I don't think many contested adoptions are granted but don't feel discouraged.
Apparently the courts also like the adoptive parent to be married for at least a year. My husband and I have been married for 7 months but since it can be a long process we hope to be close to a year by the time it gets to court.
My husband and I decided to adopt because if something were to happen to me I would like her to be with the man she knows as her daddy. Otherwise she ends up in the system being fought over by her BF and Grandparents. My husband would have no legal rights. That breaks my heart that she could be taken out of her stable home away from any future siblings and her Daddy.
Good luck to you and keep us updated. I will keep you and everyone else posted as to what happens in my case.