Adoption In New York

[BrookeNY]

I have a 12 year old girl that I would like adopted by my husband. There is no father on the birth certificate. I haven't seen him since the day I came home from the hospital. He has made no attempt to pay support or get a hold of me. I have no idea how to get a hold of him. I am pretty sure that he doesn't live in this state anymore. How do I go about this so that it is legal? So he can't come back and bite me in the years to come.

[LawResearcherMissy]

According to page 3 of this document, the other birth parent must agree to the adoption unless s/he has abandoned the child - that is, has had no contact with the child for 6 months or more.

Talk to your local district court about forms and procedures for initiating a step-parent adoption.

[BrookeNY]

I think 12 years is way beyond that...lol . Heck with that stipulations my other two could be adopted by him as well. He hasnt seen them in about a year.

Thank you soo much.