[bpe]

Hi,I was wondering if someone could please help us.The problem is my husband wants to adopt our daughter( I say our daughter cause he's the only dad she's ever known)but her biological father is in prison.He has been for the past 5yrs.Our daughter knows nothing about him.Doesn't even knows he exist.We plan on telling her within the next couple of yrs.I've been with my husband since she was 6 months old.She is now turning 8yrs old.Last time her biological father seen her she was about 7 or 8 months old.The last time his family has seen her she was about 2yrs old.We have no contact at all with them.We made up some excuse about why her last name is different from ours.My husband and I have been married almost 6yrs.I live in the state of illinois.Can anyone please help us how to go about adopting.Any help will be greatly appreciated

[cjaping]

You'll have to research the termination of parental rights in Illinois. Seeing how the father is in prison, and has been for a while, I would think it'd be cut and dry. Would the father sign over his rights? If so, you'd contact him, send him the form (which needs to be notarized, ask the prison how to arrange that), then fill out the forms for adoption. I'll see if I can find the forms you'll need. HTH, good luck!!

[bpe]

I'm not sure if he would sign over his rights.I really do appreciate the help.Thank you

[cjaping]

If he won't you'll need to ask the judge to terminate his rights. Each state has their own laws on termination, but many include abandonment, non-support, and conviction of certain crimes. It's worth researching, search "termination of rights Illinois" and you should be able to pull up the statute that applies.