I just recently started the process of adopting my sister in-laws son. We had him in our home since he was 5 months and now he is 21 months. Just last month, we went with the relinquishment of her parental rights. The father on the other hand is no where in the picture. My question is, should I tell the natural father of this process we've taken? Or no?

Yes.

In order to adopt, you will need to make an earnest attempt to contact him and get him to sign away his parental rights.

It's cases where this does NOT happen where the bio parents can overturn an adoption.

IF you know who he is and where he is, you will have to get him to sign over his rights so you can adopt. If not he has a valid claim to the children and you can not adopt. If you can't find him, there are required search methods you will have to follow

So far, we've sent a relinquishment paper to him, but no reply. The next step we are taking is publishing it in the newspapers. I just want this to be over n done with.

Do you know where he is or not? Did the relinquishment letter come back as undeliverable?

The point you are missing is that you NEED his relinquishment or you need to prove that you have made a good faith effort to get it. If you know where he lives then publishing in a newspaper is not enough. That's only good if you have no clue where he is. His non response can be taken as a denial of the termination of his rights.

You need to prove he received or didn't receive the notice. You made need to hire a process server to make sure he is served.

I understand that we need his relinquishment, but we have no idea of where he is at this time. We only know of his last know address.

Ok, if all you know is a last known address, then you have to follow the court guidelines for making a good faith effort to contact him. You should have an attorney preparing the adoption petititon, they should advise you what you need to do to qualify as a good faith effort.

Yes, we do have an attorney and he's great!.