Step parent adoption help

[alley1217]

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

Where can I find the petition for adoption?

What would be proof that you can use in court to show the father has not visited or contacted the child? Examples please?

Would phone records work or should I get statements from relatives? Not sure what would be the best route to take.

 

[Proserpina]

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

Where can I find the petition for adoption?

What would be proof that you can use in court to show the father has not visited or contacted the child? Examples please?

Would phone records work or should I get statements from relatives? Not sure what would be the best route to take.

Phone records will show what exactly?

Statements saying what?

Please give us the details surrounding your situation. How old is the child? How long have you been married? Where IS the child's father?

(Why don't you have an attorney?)

 

[ecmst12]

This is not something you should even be CONSIDERING without an attorney. If you can't afford an attorney, then start saving and wait until you can. Your child deserves to have this done RIGHT the first time.

 

[alley1217]

My child is 4, I have been married for 2 and a half years. My child's father is in Texas, the last time my child's father saw my child was when I went to Texas for a family members funeral about 2 years ago and he only saw him for a couple of hours. My child's father does not call, he does not provide support. I filed for custody last year and was awarded sole legal and physical custody due to the fact he did not appear in court and didn't contact the court as to why he would not be able to appear.

I have read the law in the county I reside in and it says that no consent shall be required of a birth parent who without just cause neither visited nor contacted the child for a period of 6 months immediately prior to the filing of the petition for adoption. It has been over 6 months since I have heard from my child's father.

So I am wondering what would be the best way to prove that he has not contacted nor visited. Phone records, statements from other family members?

I know that when I file the adoption petition that my child's father will not do much in the way of contesting it. Since he has been out of contact with my child for so long and he doesn't exactly have any money to hire or lawyer or even to come to Virginia.

Also the county clerk in my area does not provide the adoption petition, where will I be able to find this?

 

[TheGeekess]

You need an attorney to properly do this.

 

[Zigner]

Your questions are so basic as to indicate that you need an attorney.

 

[Just Blue]

My child is 4, I have been married for 2 and a half years. My child's father is in Texas, the last time my child's father saw my child was when I went to Texas for a family members funeral about 2 years ago and he only saw him for a couple of hours. My child's father does not call, he does not provide support. I filed for custody last year and was awarded sole legal and physical custody due to the fact he did not appear in court and didn't contact the court as to why he would not be able to appear.

I have read the law in the county I reside in and it says that no consent shall be required of a birth parent who without just cause neither visited nor contacted the child for a period of 6 months immediately prior to the filing of the petition for adoption. It has been over 6 months since I have heard from my child's father.

So I am wondering what would be the best way to prove that he has not contacted nor visited. Phone records, statements from other family members?

I know that when I file the adoption petition that my child's father will not do much in the way of contesting it. Since he has been out of contact with my child for so long and he doesn't exactly have any money to hire or lawyer or even to come to Virginia.

Also the county clerk in my area does not provide the adoption petition, where will I be able to find this?

The bolded section makes it seem as if you are trying to out $$ the father. Does the father have child's contact info? Address, phone???? Is there a visitation order?

 

[alley1217]

there is no visitation order because he did not appear in court, he informed me he threw the summons in the trash and he would not be there. the father has my number and the number has been the same for years, the simple fact is he just does not call, I would give him our address also, though I don't know how to get in touch with him and he hasn't shown any interest in having it.

I have been more than willing to work with the father to make the situation simple for the both of us. I have told the father in the past that he may visit our child whenever he wants, though I did tell him that I am not paying for any travel expenses since he does not contribute to our child's daily needs financially. I have tried to contact him and it was a wild goose chase, meaning that I called his last known number, which now belongs to his sister who says she does not know how to get in contact with him. I called a family friend of the father which gave me another number that ended up being another person saying that they do not know where he is, I called his other sister and got the same answer from her.

 

[Just Blue]

there is no visitation order because he did not appear in court, he informed me he threw the summons in the trash and he would not be there. the father has my number and the number has been the same for years, the simple fact is he just does not call. I have been more than willing to work with the father to make the situation simple for the both of us. I have told the father in the past that he may visit our child whenever he wants, though I did tell him that I am not paying for any travel expenses since he does not contribute to our child's daily needs financially. I have tried to contact him and it was a wild goose chase, meaning that I called his last known number, which now belongs to his sister who says she does not know how to get in contact with him. I called a family friend of the father which gave me another number that ended up being another person saying that they do not know where he is, I called his other sister and got the same answer from her.

You NEED to hire a good ADOPTION ATTORNEY in the jurisdiction area. Be VERY SURE of this marriage. BE VERY SURE you want you husband to be the FATHER to your child. Be AWARE that is you and hubby divorce HE could end up with custody and you paying him CS. If you are good with ALL possible outcome. proceed.

Good luck to you and your child.
Blue