NC stepparent adoption - absent Canadian bio-father

[thankHIMdaily]

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

Hi, I have a few things here.

1. What are your feelings about online services who charge a fee (100% money back guarantee) to complete your stepparent adoption forms that you will print & file on your own at the local court house?

2. My husband, myself & our child are all US citizens & reside in NC. My husband is the only father our child has ever known & he desires to officially adopt our child.

3. The biological father of the child is a Canadian citizen & resident. He has never seen, supported, nor attempted to contact the child in seven years. I haven't been able to establish contact with him recently either. (however, I do believe I still have his mother's address). Does this pose any problems?

4. I have the correct NC form "dss-5162-ia spa" http://info.dhhs.state.nc.us/olm/forms/dss/dss-5162-ia.pdf isn't it possible to simply fill out this form & submit it on our own?

5. If attempting this on our own is there any other advice you can offer that would be of help?

Thank You.

 

[Gracie3787]

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

Hi, I have a few things here.

1. What are your feelings about online services who charge a fee (100% money back guarantee) to complete your stepparent adoption forms that you will print & file on your own at the local court house?

2. My husband, myself & our child are all US citizens & reside in NC. My husband is the only father our child has ever known & he desires to officially adopt our child.

3. The biological father of the child is a Canadian citizen & resident. He has never seen, supported, nor attempted to contact the child in seven years. I haven't been able to establish contact with him recently either. (however, I do believe I still have his mother's address). Does this pose any problems?

4. I have the correct NC form "dss-5162-ia spa" http://info.dhhs.state.nc.us/olm/forms/dss/dss-5162-ia.pdf isn't it possible to simply fill out this form & submit it on our own?

5. If attempting this on our own is there any other advice you can offer that would be of help?

Thank You.

I don't think I can say this strongly enough:

Under the circumstances that the father is out of the country and you do not have his agreement- YOU NEED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY.

If you try this on your own you could easily make mistakes that can cause huge problems in the future. Protect your child by hiring an attorney to get it done correctly.

 

[Zigner]

As for the online service... I'm willing to be that there is enough loopholes in the agreement that you'd NEVER get your money back even if you wanted to. Yes, do this right. Get an attorney.

 

[stealth2]

To reinforce what the other posters have said - adoption is NOT a DIY project.

 

[thankHIMdaily]

Update

I have now made contact with the bio father in Canada & he is more than willing to consent to the adoption & cooperate in every way... Do I still need a Lawyer?

 

[ErinGoBragh]

Yes, you absolutely still need a lawyer. Any mistakes in the adoption and biological father can come back years later and possibly have everything undone.