Stepparent Adoption of a Child With a Deadbeat Dad
My question involves adoption law for the State of: North Carolina I have an eight year old son whose father apparently resides in new york while my son and I have resided in nc for the past 5 years. We moved here to nc after his father was arrested and convicted of felony accounts including stabbing a police k-9 several times as well as the police officer himself, resisting arrest, violation of probation all in one night. We have not seen or heard from him these past five years. I never bothered to go to court to get full custody of my son because I was afraid he would then find out where we were and literally kill us; i just 'laid low' or 'hid'. Well now I found out that he is no longer in prison and I am getting married soon. My soon to be husband would like to adopt my son after we are married but I dont even know where to begin. Given the circumstances stated above, do I need to have not only court ordered custody of my son and have his fathers parental rights stripped in order for my husband to adopt him?
Re: Stepparent Adoption of a Child With a Dead Beat Dad
It seems to me that you could make a good case for abandonment of the child, thus negating the need for the bio-father's permission for a legal name change.
Consult an attorney specializing in family law in your area. First consultation is usually free, and this instance should be more than enough to be certain of your rights here.