My husband wants to adopt my 13 yr old daughter. He has basically helped me raise her since she was one yr old. What do we need to do first? He biological father denied she was even his when I first told him I was pregnant. I haven't been able to find him anywhere ! When I was on welfare in CA, as part of their program I have to seek paternity. They weren't able to find him and when I went on welfare in NV, they weren't able to find him here either. So he's MIA. What do we need to do first to get this adoption ball rolling fast??

Is he on the birth certificate?

No matter if he is on or not on the birth certificate, the court where you are at will have a proceudre you have to follow to attempt to find and notify him, If he can not be found, it is then published in the paper and they will proceed with the court case.

First stop, a good attorney

No he is NOT on the birth certificate.. This should make things a little bit easier for the adoption process... Right?

Like the Father said... it doesn't MATTER if he is on the birth certificate.

You need an attorney for this. There are specific legal procedures in terminating parental rights, and they vary from state to state. There MUST be an attempt to locate the biological father, and an attorney will know the legal procedure to follow to do so.

Let's put it this way: If you do NOT follow the correct procedures, then a year down the road the biological father can show up and overturn the adoption, and then where would you be?

Talk to a local family attorney. They will be able to tell you what steps to take, and how to take them.

The orphans court should be able to direct you in the necessary steps. I believe you will have to publish a legal add a certain number of news papers in different states to begin with and then you can proceed from there. God Bless her Dad.

I have tried to locate the bio father.. Welfare has even tried to locate the father. But the thing is is that I don't have enough information about him to anyone to do a search of him. He was kind of a one night stand.. meaning I don't really know anything about him. IE: date of birth, ss #, place of birth, mothers name, fathers name, etc...

I can't afford an attorney. I will just have to go to the courthouse and ask them what steps to take to get this going.

I would like to thank everyone for there input, you've all been a great help !