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  1. #1

    Question I Want to Adopt My Step Daughter

    My question involves adoption law for the State of: Florida

    My husband has sole custody of his 9 yr old daughter for 4 yrs now. She was taken from her bio mom at the age of 1 1/2 for the home being unfit and drugs were present. At the time she was placed with my husbands mother because he did not have A stable home or job. When his mom passed we did A pro sey motion and gained custody. The child was visiting with the mother untill 4 months ago when we decided to have the child see A councler because of her behavior when she returned home. She seemed angry and with drawn. When she had seen the therapist for the first time they informed my husband that they were calling and having someone go to the mothers house to investigate. They also came here because this is her primary residence. The investigator said it would be in the best intrest of the child to have the mother come to our home to see the child or to take her to A public place so that it could be supervised. We have not heard from the mother since this has been in place. It has been in place for 4 months. There was also A child support hearing in which the bio mom did not show and is now late on child support. How would I go about adopting my stepdaughter? My husband and I have been married for 4 yrs.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
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    35,894

    Default Re: I Want to Adopt My Step Daughter

    You both need to go and see an attorney; adoption is never a DIY project.

    Because Mom has seen the child as little as 4 months ago it's unlikely her rights will be terminated involuntarily at this point; if Mom doesn't agree to terminate her rights you may have an uphill battle on your hands.

    Start calling local attorneys!

  3. #3

    Default Re: I Want to Adopt My Step Daughter

    Thanks for the advice!! I will do that asap. I also wanted to know when would abandonment come into place?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: I Want to Adopt My Step Daughter

    Generally it involves at least 6 months where the parent has had no contact whatsoever. Paying child support is considered contact, and obviously so is visitation/calling/emailing/letters etc.

    In most cases though, it would be at least a year to be on the safe side.

    Quite often in a Step-parent Adoption situation, the absent parent may be given at least once chance to remedy the absence before their rights are involuntarily terminated.

    A good attorney however may be able to avoid this from happening.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    2,773

    Default Re: I Want to Adopt My Step Daughter

    You can get a low cost consult by calling the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-342-8011.

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