How to go about this process of Step-parent adoption?

[rmf1106]

My husband wants to adopt my daughter who he has been raising since she was 5 months. However, I am unsure how to go about the process for a few reasons that may or may not add complication to the process.

Okay, I had my daughter when I was in the military stationed in Hawaii therefore, on her birth certificate, it has Hawaii listed as her state of birth. I am a resident of Maryland and my daughter's biological father is a resident of California. However, my husband is active duty military and with the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act, I am unsure of exactly which states rules and reuglations I need to abide by as far as obtaining the correct paperwork to get this process started. My husband is also a resident of Washington State. My daugher's biological father has no objections to this and will cooperate with the process. Although he is her father and has her last name on the birth certificate, he was deployed at the time and was unable to sign the birth certificate and was unable to even put his name on it. So, there is no father listed on her birth certificate. How and where do I go to get this process going? Thank you for any information that can be given.

 

[Antigone*]

My husband wants to adopt my daughter who he has been raising since she was 5 months. However, I am unsure how to go about the process for a few reasons that may or may not add complication to the process.

Okay, I had my daughter when I was in the military stationed in Hawaii therefore, on her birth certificate, it has Hawaii listed as her state of birth. I am a resident of Maryland and my daughter's biological father is a resident of California. However, my husband is active duty military and with the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act, I am unsure of exactly which states rules and reuglations I need to abide by as far as obtaining the correct paperwork to get this process started. My husband is also a resident of Washington State. My daugher's biological father has no objections to this and will cooperate with the process. Although he is her father and has her last name on the birth certificate, he was deployed at the time and was unable to sign the birth certificate and was unable to even put his name on it. So, there is no father listed on her birth certificate. How and where do I go to get this process going? Thank you for any information that can be given.

Consider this mom: In the event you and step dad decide to go your own way how would you feel with dad having custody of his child and you paying support? How would he feel paying support to you if you had custody of the child you both share?

 

[Silverplum]

Hire an adoption attorney. This is never a do-it-yourself project.

The various locales do not matter. Dad will relinquish his parental rights and Stepdad will adopt, basically simultaneously.

 

[haiku]

You hire a the lawyer in your-the childs, CURRENT state of residency, because that is where the adoption will actually take place, places of birth, marriage, etc...do not come into play.