SC step parent adoption

[jewell2010]

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

Hi, I just have a few general questions, we have already contacted a lawyer and are just waiting for consult but I am anxious!

My husband would like to adopt my 11 year old daughter, her father was never involved in her life and passed away 6 years ago in a car accident so obviously there will be no signing over of parental rights. He is also not on her birth certificate but I do have a DNA test which he requested when she was 3 and I finally got him into court for CS.

Now, question is...do we simply have to show that father is deceased? Is there a certain amount of time you have to be married before you can begin the adoption process? and does SC require a home study?

We were never granted Social Security from her fathers death because he did not work enought while alive nor have we had any contact with his family (his dad sends her a birthday and christmas card every year but has never met her) so I don't believe there will be any issues.

 

[Isis1]

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

Hi, I just have a few general questions, we have already contacted a lawyer and are just waiting for consult but I am anxious!

My husband would like to adopt my 11 year old daughter, her father was never involved in her life and passed away 6 years ago in a car accident so obviously there will be no signing over of parental rights. He is also not on her birth certificate but I do have a DNA test which he requested when she was 3 and I finally got him into court for CS.

Now, question is...do we simply have to show that father is deceased? Is there a certain amount of time you have to be married before you can begin the adoption process? and does SC require a home study?

We were never granted Social Security from her fathers death because he did not work enought while alive nor have we had any contact with his family (his dad sends her a birthday and christmas card every year but has never met her) so I don't believe there will be any issues.

have a copy of the DNA results, a copy of the paternity estabishment from court, some court require a year of marriage, some recommend, and there have been some instances where one MAY get married very soon.

how long have you been married?

 

[jewell2010]

We have been married for a month, but he has been in her life for years...and she very much wants the adoption. When you say some courts, do you mean it can differ depending on the judge as to how long we have to be married? I can't find any information about the process of a step parent adoption in SC so I don't know whether you have to wait a year or not, I think that is our main concern.

 

[Seanscott]

In our situation (Indiana) we got married & visited a lawyer on Wednesday, she filed the petition to adopt the following Friday.
Since we had lived together and I had been in the child's life for four years the court never mentioned the one year marriage requirement.
By the time you finally get into court you will probably have been married for six months and will be able to show a long term, committed relationship.