Step-Father Adoption Where the Biological Father is Unknown

[ljr23]

My daughter, who is almost 6 now, was born in Montana (but conceived in NC). I am now married and living in Washington. Her biological father is unknown, and I am just wondering how my husband and I would go about the adoption process? We have been married 2 yrs and he is all she has and will ever know as a father. Any help would be So appreciated! Thank you!

[aardvarc]

In cases like this, you're usually required to at least attempt to contact the natural father (like sending mail to a last known address or putting an ad in the paper for a certain amount of time). In cases where the father is unknown (such as in rape cases where the suspect is unknown) such things are usually bypassed and the process goes straight through to the judicial review stage. A local attorney can help with such an independent adoption.

[flpaternity]

I had a similar situation in whitch I DID NOT WANT to conntact her biological father and his name was not on her birth certificate (so the fathers spot was empty) and instead of going the adoption route we just decided to put my husbands name on her birth certificate. It was really very easy all he had to do was fill out the acknowledgment of paternity forms saying that he was her biological father. That was that.

[aardvarc]

I had a similar situation in whitch I DID NOT WANT to conntact her biological father and his name was not on her birth certificate (so the fathers spot was empty) and instead of going the adoption route we just decided to put my husbands name on her birth certificate. It was really very easy all he had to do was fill out the acknowledgment of paternity forms saying that he was her biological father. That was that.

The problem with this route is that it leaves you open to the whim of the biological father suddenly deciding at some time in the future that he DOES want contact. (For instance, if your child happens to become a millionaire child star, I can guarantee you this father will come a sniffing.) A very different situation than not knowing who the father is at all. You filling out the paternity forms won't grant you much solice should the bio father pop up at some time in the future petitioning for a blood test, at which point visitation and custody could become a nightmare for you and your child.

[Baystategirl]

I had a similar situation in whitch I DID NOT WANT to conntact her biological father and his name was not on her birth certificate (so the fathers spot was empty) and instead of going the adoption route we just decided to put my husbands name on her birth certificate. It was really very easy all he had to do was fill out the acknowledgment of paternity forms saying that he was her biological father. That was that.

Please don't advise the OP to commit a crime.

[seniorjudge]

I would like to point out that the poster said she didn't know who the father was.

She did NOT say she didn't know his whereabouts.

Big difference.