Hi. I have been with my partner for 5years now and I have a two children, my child who is6 is not to my partner. But he's bilogical father does not have any contact with my child and hasn't bothered to come and visit him. He does not pay for my son andf does not show any interest at all. Me and my partner are planning on getting married this year and he would like to adopt my son as he's own. He has brought him up as he's own and paid and cared for all he's needs. I am just wondering how I go ahead with the adoption. I have also contacted my sons father who as said we could go ahead.

1. Get a lawyer.
2. Get married.
3. Get the biological father to relinquish parental rights in a courtroom so that an adoption can proceed.
4. File adoption paperwork.

As a side note, some states require that you be married a specific amount of time before you can file for stepparent adoption--usually a year.