Adopting a Step-Child

[tuesdayholiday]

can i adopt my step child if the mother doesn't know who the father is and no one is on the birth certificate? we are about to get married her child is 5yrs old.

[aaron]

The court would want notice served on the putative father. If he's truly unknown, the court may want further explanation of the circumstances of conception so that the judge can understand why service isn't possible.

Adoption laws are different in each state.

[tuesdayholiday]

she said she slept with a few people but didnt know some of their full names. the other she already had tested. we live in texas

[seniorjudge]

This situation happens a lot.

The family law lawyer you hire knows how to handle this.

Ask, however, the first thing. If the lawyer has never heard of such a situation, politely tell him you are hiring someone else.

[tuesdayholiday]

we wanted to do paperwork at home for this... is it possible the if no one is listed on the birth certificate and she at least had the only person she remembered at that time of conception tested that it is enough to go through with the adoption?