Does anyone know anything about absent parent adoptions? I can't find any advice on this topic. I am a forty five year old woman with a daughter that is nearly six. Her father lives in Europe somewhere and I live in Kentucky. He has never seen her. I haven't seen him since I was three months pregnant. I will be marrying a man that I have been seeing for five years. He would like to adopt her. He loves her very much and has been a great father to her. She also loves him and treats him just like a father. Does anyone know what I need to do legally to have her adopted by my fiancé when we are married? Thank you.

Each state in the US has their own laws on the issue. The courts will require some level of "search" for the father, and have rules on public posting in a newspaper of this adoption if the bio father can not be found.

You will need an attorney to do all of this, so that should be your first stop.

File a motion in Family Court. You have a rather sticky situation in that you know the biological father's whereabouts but he's not in this country. It's possible that he could sign his consent by affidavit (assuming you know his European mailing address and could get it to him, have him sign it and return it to you.) A consulate or embassy may be able to assist in this regard as well, depending on what country he's in. Talk to a family lawyer for firsthand information.

I don't know his address. I only know that a few years back he had sent an email saying he took a job in Libya. According to a more recent email address that I snooped and found, he is living in St. John's Bay, in Malta Europe. I have no contact at all with him.

As indicated, you need an attorney to petition the court for the adoption. Part of that pettition will be a termination of parental rights. The atty will know what steps need to be taken to terminate his rights.

The posts above say it pretty well, public postings, and petitions. Good luck, and one other point that may help you in your case that I have not seen information on these posts about, other than you've had no contact since you were three months pregnant is: HEY, HE HAS A LOT OF BACKPAY CHILD SUPPORT HE OWES YOU FOR RAISING YOUR DAUGHTER BY YOURSELF!! No I am not shouting! But that would be a good angle for your attorney to be aware of, and if the man you are seeing has "been a good father to her" , then as I have posted before, the Father does not have to be the Sperm Donor to the Egg that made the child, the Father is the MAN that raises, loves, and protects the child.

Back child support would be nice... but United States has no jurisdiction in Europe! I could sure use it but it won't happen. Our laws means nothing there. Besides I never named him on the birth certificate. I knew he would never be a father. Actually what happened was... I was recently divorced... and on rebound met him.. got pregnant... not sure of my feelings.. got a marriage license to marry him when I found I was pregnant... and realized somehow... I was not in love with him... I realize now since he would have nothing to do with me after I didn't marry him or name him as father... he was looking for a way to get citizenship... God had a hand in his using me and his daughter. I get no support but I get all of her to myself! Thank you so much for your words!