I was adopted(birth parents are dead) but my adopted father is a deadbeat dad... My mother re-married & he husband (stepfather) has been what I consider my father. How can I have my adopted fathers name taken off my birth certificate & add my step fathers name? My mother is now deceased. The adoption was in TN and I now... live in GA. I am 39 years old and have had no contact with my adopted father since 3 years after adoption at the age of 5. I had my name legally changed to my stepfathers last name last year. Can anyone help?

You had your name legally changed already, what more do you want? Wasn't a new birth certificate issued?

Adult adoptions are rare, but not unheard of.

I wouldn't recommend doing it without the help of an attorney, but you can do it.

You would need to have your step-father be willing to do so, but you can file paperwork for an adoption at your local family courts.

What I am not sure on is what is going to be different, or what forms might need to be specially filed in an adult adoption.

I really recommend that you contact a family law attorney in your area.

Does he have to adopt me in order for his name to be put on my BC? He is very willing to do whatever it takes. I just want him on my BC. To me when he gave me the OK to carry his name that was all the adoption I needed. It just makes me crazy that my adopted fathers name is on the BC. He never earned the right to be my father.

No new Birth certificate was issued upon the name change. And He never earned the right to be my father.

A birth certificate is a legal document--and yes, he needs to adopt you for that to happen.

You MUST do that through the courts--the courts are the only ones who can make changes to that legal document.

MOST people don't earn the right to be parents--look at all the dead-beat parents out there. All you have to do be a parent is donate an egg, a sperm, or adopt. You are a parent LONG before you earn the right to be, in most countries in the world.

Feel lucky that you got the step-father you did. It could have been much worse.

May thanks for all your answers. The information was very helpful.

In Georgia it is rare that they do any adult adoptions. You would have to find a lawyer willing to try, and have them file for adoption paper work, involving finding the real birth father and getting him to agree.

But honestly a birth certificate is just a paper, it does not mean anything to anyone, expect to prove your name.