[krichardson]

Hi,

I live in Texas & have a seven year old son. His bio father left while I was pregnant & we haven't seen or heard from him since. His name is not on the birth certificate. My husband & I have been together since my son was a year old & my son calls him daddy. My husband is the only father he has ever known. My husband wants to adopt my son, but we don't know how to get the process started. Since the BF isn't on the birth certificate & has never been in the picture, does he still have to sign away his rights? Is it considered abandonment since he has never made an effort to see him in the last seven years? We have not been able to locate him. Can someone help give me some info as to how we can get the process started & my husband can adopt my son?

Thanks,

Kaylyn

[momofmykids]

Contact an attorney and let them advise you. If this person is indeed the father, then he could possibly disrupt any adoption if he can prove via DNA testing that he is the bio father (the lawyer can tell you more about that) if the proper protcal isn't followed. Once all the paperwork is done and you still can't find him, then the lawyer can run an ad in the paper in the town where he was last known to live notifying him of what is about to happen. I'm almost certain that his parental rights have to be terminated before your husband can adopt your child.