My question involves adoption law for the State of: California.

My husband wishes to adopt my 10 year old daughter. The Bio-father is very unstable, he is a manic depressive with bipolar. I have numerous letters where he has wished me dead and has made numerous threats against me and stated he would turn my daughter against me, if he ever got his hands on her. He has not seen her since she was 3 years old. He recently has posted a comment on where he stated "so possibly ending my life on christmas day" and me keeping his daughter from him (not true) on Craigs List and included my FULL NAME as well as sent very nasty e-mails over the years. I have sole legal and physical custody of my daughter, the court only granted him supervised visitation. Do to his verbal abuse and harassment with the court appointed supervisor (a family member) removed themselves as the supervisor years ago. He has never made an attempt to see or talk to her. The Bio-father would never give his consent out of spite. Do I still need his consent for adoption? Also at what age can my daughter decide she would like to be adopted under the age of 18?