Hello, All,
This is my first time posting here. I hope I do it right
We started attending foster-adopt classes back in July, but we were offered a child through private adoption in the mean time. We hired a lawyer right away, I flew out to meet the birth mom and her family in person (she and I have talked online for about 5 years...before I ever knew we'd be adopting, before she ever knew she'd be in this situation). It looks like things are going to work out just fine.
We've provided mom with some financial support, but mostly she just wants parents for the baby. The biological father was contacted about the situation - he is not willing to sign away his rights, so we're doing the petition for publication, since he's also not willing to provide any sort of support to the child.
I'm just wondering if anyone here is familiar with this process - petition for publication. Our understanding is that a legal notice is placed in the newspaper for 30 days..and he has that 30 days to respond..to 'do something', and that if he doesn't then the state where the mother resides will terminate his rights. Then, after the baby is born...mom will relinquish her rights. In her state, there is a 10 day wait, then we'll appear before the judge and the adoption will be finalized.
We've had our homestudy, all the background checks and everything - we are ready on our end, I talk to the birth mom pretty much every day...things look good. I'd just like to know more about the newspaper thing. Our lawyer recently had surgery and she's a bit behind...though I'll ask her for more detail as well.
Thanks,
-Catinhat