[iammom]

I'm a single mom whose son is thirteen. My best friend wants to become his adoptive father and nothing would change on my end. He just wishes to have the legal rights to him as his father. My son's biological father has not seen him since he was four years old. I'm not sure where to start looking for information before proceeding. There doesn't seem to be much information regarding this type of adoption since my friend and I are not married nor are we dating/co-habitating. I live in Ohio and my son's father lives in PA. Guidance towards the right direction is greatly appreciated

[spitzlvr]

Is the father named on the birth cert? If so I believe he will have to relinquish rights. And even then I not sure. If I were you I would consult an asoption lawyer.

[DianeS]

Very few states allow what you are describing. Most of those that do allow it call it "second parent adoption". (At least, most of the ones I've heard of call it that). So that's one search term you can start with in your investigation.

Most states require that adoptive parents be married to each other in order for court proceedings to create a birth certificate that lists them both. That is the case even when one person is already the parent - the second one can't be added unless that second parent is already married to the current parent.

Once you have figured out if Ohio law allows that type of "second parent adoption", then you would follow normal procedures and laws for getting your child's biological father's rights terminated. Depending on the circumstances, the bio father could sign away his rights, have them terminated on certain basis (like abandonment), or the two of you could go to court and argue about it.

I hope that helps. Good luck to you!