[mjwalshusmc]

I have yet to get a solid answer from both my ex-wife's lawyer and mine. I was married to my ex-wife for 3 1/2 years. At the actual time my ex-wife had got pregnant I was in Iraq, and granted we were still married at this time but seeking divorce. We stayed married until her (our) daughter was almost 6 months to a year. Well it was hard forgiving my ex-wife but I immediately took her daugther as my own and have loved her and cared for her as my own, I am her daddy and her hero and she has my last name from birth. Her biological father has never seen her, has been being made to pay for child support but is fighting it. I have talked to him on the phone and he has expressed to me he is willing to sign over all custody to me, since I have been her father and have been taking care of her financially and she loves me the same and he can not afford to pay child support, she is only 3 years old by the way. I have reconciled with the mother since then and actually had another child with her so my daughter who I'm trying to adopt is the middle child, between 2 of my biological children. Under these circumstances without being married any longer or living with the biological mother where do I stand in gaining custody once and for all of my daughter?

[stepadoptionblog]

As long as both the biological parents agree, then you should be able to adopt your stepdaughter. And the good news is: having consent from the parent(s) is the fastest way to get a stepparent adoption completed. Some states do require that you be married in order to complete a stepparent adoption, but I do not believe that PA is one of them.

Once the stepparent adoption is complete, you will want to go back to court to sort out custody/visitation/child support issues between yourself and the mother of the child. It will save you both alot of time and money if you can come to an agreement on your own, or with a mediators help. It is wonderful that you love your sd so much and have done so much to stay in her life, and to be her daddy! Good for you!

Stepparent Adoption Blog