Hello,

The biological father of my (currently 5-yr-old) child married another woman while I was still pregnant. His name is not on the birth certificate; furthermore he has had no contact with my child and has never paid a dime of support money. He lives in Indiana; I lived with him there for a few months but moved home to Ohio before I had the baby.

I understand that I do not need this man's permission for a stepparent adoption, as he is a putative father. However, my husband (we've been married for almost 2 years) is in the Reserves, and at the end of February we are going to California for 6 months for training that he is getting through the Reserves. Within one month of coming home, he will be going to Iraq.

We just found out about Iraq, and would like to complete the adoption before my husband leaves, just in case something happens. Do the courts move too slowly for this to be possible? Is there anything we can do to expedite the case? Should we file before we leave for California, and hope for a court date after we come back to Ohio but before my husband leaves for Iraq?