Step-Parent Adoption

[Tia]

I am 14 and will be 15 in April and I was wondering how my step-dad could adopt me. My real dad lives in Flordia and I haven't talk to him or seen him in over 4 years. He also hasn't payed child support for over 4 years. I don't think he will sign the adoption papers, but considering the fact that I haven't seen him or talked to him and he doesn't pay child support, would he still have to sign the papers?

[aaron]

If your mother and step-father are willing to do so, they can probably terminate your biological father's parental rights on the basis of abandonment as part of the step-parent adoption process.

[Tia]

Wow! Thanks. My mom was worries that if we tried to get him to sign the papers that he would refuse. So it doesn't really matter because he abandoned me?

[aaron]

Probably so. The exact parameters of what constitutes "abandonment" so as to support the termination of parental rights within the context of step-parent adoption varies by state.