[Novi]

I've been raising my stepson since he was 15months. He was taken from his birth mother at 8 months, even though she was only 17 this was not her first or her last kid taken, she has made no effort to see or make contact, not even send a birthday card, my husband has sole custody. My stepson only knows me as mom and my family, hers has notwanted to be involved (this is actually all for the better, because even though I just gave birth to my first bio child my stepson has never and never will be treated differently, he was the first grandbaby, great grandbaby and great nephewniece on my side and everyone loves him sooo much, my family has been pushing me just as hard to get the adoption process done, because even though she would never come around, just the possibility has devastated my whole family,) anyways , I have gone through the process of the stepparent adoption in LA County, payed my fines and done the interview, but now it's come down totrying to contact her, they sent me a letter saying to look into California Family Code 8604 which I have read and I read all the following also, but I'm still at loss for what I need to do, DCFS can not find her and I heard something about taking out an ad in the last known place she was and if there's no response I go to court or something, but I'm not exactly sure and then I heard about the abandonment thing because shes has not seen him in 3 1/2 years (he's 4 now) but I know I only have 90 days and I'm kinda at a standstill, any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

[Lovemeinfinite]

I too am in a similiar situation. I have been raising my stepdaughter for the past 9 months. We have heard from the bio mother a few times on the phone, but no visits, no cards, nothing sent in the mail, no support, nothing. The mother even had free rides, upon a clean drug test. Did not take. We even offered her collect calling, which she used once when she was in jail...and we did not except from jail. I need to know how to adopt this little girl. I think the mother would try and stop the adoption just to further hurt her daughter and my husband and I. Also she has had another child taken from her before this one was born. If you would like to talk more or have any info please let me know.

[LIR - NFL]

What do your atorneys tell you to do? Legal aid or paralegal should know and they are cheaper.

[Lovemeinfinite]

Well I am currently looking into all that right now, but the thing is I want info and to know everything before I start the process. It is just hard because you cant really find any info on dead beat mothers abandoning thier children and step mothers wanting to adopt. I guess that is a good thing, but then it is hard for me because everything is about the fathers. I just wish I could see some more info so I could at least see some information and a chance i would have.

[CadensOthrMommy]

I have been raising my son since birth, he is now 13months oldand was taken from me just over a week ago. Since I am notblood related and the mother (my wife) is not even in the state I don't know what I can do to get him back.

How did you go about the stp parent adoption in LA county? I am in San Bernardino county. What does the court process include? And how long did it take you to do it? qwell thanks and the best of luck to you with your child. I hope it all works out.

[Teresa K]

I am not sure if this will help at all, but this is a link to the CA adoption forms. The forms have the statutes that apply for abandonment. Good luck. Teresa

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/forms.cgi

[sbuck]

I'm in the same situation. I have never met my step daughters bio mother. As soon as she found out about us trying to do this (change in custody and adoption) she decided to write her a letter that was like a resume for her life and sent her some stuff. Its hard because i havent had to deal with this stuff ever and now I have to. Its almost like its harder to make it all legal than it is just waiting for her to show up! I know that if you call your local paper and talk to them you can place an ad in the public notice section. I think you have to place them for 3 weeks in a row and that way you can say that you tryed to contact her. Its easyer for us because we have contact with her step mother and we can get info through her. There should be a website you can go to to find out for sure i would search california adoption and see what you find! Good luck