Can I adopt my boyfriends daughter?

[Maroney2011]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Indiana

My boyfriend has a 5 year old daughter whom I would love to adopt. The mother lives in North Dakota and is willing to sign over her rights. She has pretty much been non existent in the child's life and is approximately 8,000 behind in support. Has not even spoken to the child in 6 months. Can I legally adopt her before we are married?? And if so how do we go about it??

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Indiana

My boyfriend has a 5 year old daughter whom I would love to adopt. The mother lives in North Dakota and is willing to sign over her rights. She has pretty much been non existent in the child's life and is approximately 8,000 behind in support. Has not even spoken to the child in 6 months. Can I legally adopt her before we are married?? And if so how do we go about it??

Get married, stay married for a year, then do the stepparent adoption.

The courts want to see stability.

What's the rush?

 

[La-a]

Please read around the Adoption and Custody forums, to get an idea of why Proserpina asked, "What's the rush?"

 

[Antigone*]

Also ask yourself this question: When/If you and the child's father divorce are you willing to pay child support to dad?

 

[Zigner]

Also ask yourself this question: When/If you and the child's father divorce are you willing to pay child support to dad?

It's ALSO entirely possible that, in the divorce scenario, our OP could end up with custody of the child.

 

[Antigone*]

It's ALSO entirely possible that, in the divorce scenario, our OP could end up with custody of the child.

That is very true.