Stepfather wants to adopt
My wife and I have three children, two of which are from a previous relationship she had before our relationship began. I have been a father to these beautiful children for 12 and 11 years. Their biological father walked out of their lives when they were 4 months and 1years old, and he has never paid child support or visited them, never caring about their well being in life. I live in New Orleans LA and want to adopt them and give them my last name. Do we have to contact the birth father in order for me to adopt them? Can I sign the birth certificate without going through all of the red tape and court proceedings, he didn't want to sign? The children do not know that I am not their biological father, and it hurts me that I am not, please help. I love these children dearly, and don't want anything hindering our relationship in the future. Thanks!!