Adoption

[adpaugh]

help please! My daughter is three years old, her bio-father has never been apart of her life nor does he pay child support. I don't even no where to find him. She has been calling my husband daddy for two years and she has a new brother now and we would like finalize our family by having my husband adopt my daughter. How would I begin? I live in Maryland. Do I need a lawyer? Does her bio-grandmother have the right to object to the adoption? Will this adoption ensure that if anything happens to me my husband would keep our daughter?

Sincerley,
Angela

 

[deefran]

help please! My daughter is three years old, her bio-father has never been apart of her life nor does he pay child support. I don't even no where to find him. She has been calling my husband daddy for two years and she has a new brother now and we would like finalize our family by having my husband adopt my daughter. How would I begin? I live in Maryland. Do I need a lawyer? Does her bio-grandmother have the right to object to the adoption? Will this adoption ensure that if anything happens to me my husband would keep our daughter?

Sincerley,
Angela

You can have your husband adopt your daughter. It will be a lengthy and costly (but well worth it) process. You will need a lawyer to follow procedure properly (don't want to risk any loopholes so that bio-dad can come back and claim child) Once you hire a lawyer, he/she will begin by locating the biological father and if he is not found, (this takes some time)his rights will be terminated under abandonment. NO the biograndmother has no rights concerning this. If biodad fights adoption, have lawyer send a letter stating intent to begin collection of past and present child support (this usually prevents further interruption). Sad but true, those that truly do not want to be dad's will "sell" their child to avoid paying child support. Even if he continues to fight it, he will have to explain to the judge his long absence, failure to support child, etc. Good Luck to your family.
Been there.