[GJ-JJ]

We live in Glenn county, California. I want to file for adoption of my wife's son (from her previous marriage). The biological father will not contest the adoption, will not sign the citation, because he may or may not be in California or even in the USA. He has warrants out and had been involved in illegal activities. He hasn't contacted the child or paid any child-support in over 2years. I have just finished my Masters in Computers and am pretty sure that once filed, adoption will be in my favor.

I bought the Nolo's book for step-parent adoption; read it and When I went to file the adoption papers, the court clerk told me to first file "petition to terminate parental rights". I have been trying to find out what this petition is, how to write the petition and how to go ahead from there. I can show that the biological father willfully failed to communicate and support the child.

Am I supposed to:

1. write the petition (don't know what to write in it)
2. fill the forms (adopt 200, 210, 215)
3. take the petition & forms to the court, pay the filing fees and wait for social service worker.

If there's something else I need to do, or if there are any other questions I can answer, please do ask me.

Thank you in advance. Awaiting for a reply.

[cindy1971]

If you have the newest version of the book, there is a sample in chapter 6. There is also one on the CD that comes with the book and you just fill in your name and all other information. The name of the document is the Petition to Declare Minor Free From Parental Custody and Control (Abandonment Petition).
When I filed the forms and the petition, I also had to file a citation to appear (also in book). Then, the clerk gave me a date and told me to have the birth parent served. I live in different county than you do, but you might want to have both documents ready when you file just to save on trips to the clerk.
Hope this helps, good luck!