[Getting ready2006]

Ok I met my husband before my daughter was born and he has been there her entire life. Her biological father has not done anything to be in her life, I gave him many opportunites to see her but he had other things to do. He has never paid child support or anything like that. In 2001 he had a case open for getting a paternity test done, but since we did not live in Texas at the time nothing happened, he just harrased us constantly. I guess the case was old and kicked out of the system because now that we are back in Texas he has to file a new one. He has been out of my daughters life for 5 years now. After my husband and I married we amended her birth certificate to show my husbands last name and as the father. Her original birth certificate showed no father. Is there any way that my husband can adopt my daughter as a step parent or is that out of the question? If he is able to, what steps need to be taken?

Thank you

[stepadoptionblog]

If you wish for your current husband to adopt your daughter, then you will have to go through with the paternity test with your ex and prove who is the biological father. Once it is proved that the ex is the father, then you can proceed with getting his parental rights terminated. If he consents to this it will go much faster, and be a much easier process. Call a lawyer and see what specifics you need to have completed, and what documents you will need to have.

Make sure to call more than one, and find one that you are truly comfortable with, adoptions take many months to complete and you will have to deal with the attorney throughout the entire process so don't just settle for the first one that you call!

Stepparent Adoption Blog