Step Father Adopting My Son

[littlestar8601]

Hi, my problem is i'm getting married next year and the man i'm marrying would love to adopt my 6 year old son, my son father is now living somewhere in SC i have no clue where and how to get ahold of him. My son was born in another state and we had court in that state. Now i have moved and i'm not sure if i have to go by the other state laws or the state law that i'm living in now, for the step father to adopt? I know his bio father will not sign the papers to have him adopt my son. He hasn't been in his life in the last 4 years and he has made some contact with him on and off, but the last year and a half he has made none and i have no way to know where he is. Child support has always been a issue. I havent gotten anything in over a year. The state that we went to court is not having any luck on finding where he is or getting any money out of him. Can anyone tell me how or what i can do to make this happen. the man i'm marrying has been in my son life for two years and he calls him dad. he wants nothing to do with his real father.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You would begin step-parent adoption proceedings in your current state, and would either serve your son's father or get the court to permit "substituted service" which is calculated to give him notice of the legal proceedings.