Okay please help me. I have a daughter from a previous relationship and he is Nigerian has never been to the US. He is on her birth certificate as her father but has never supported her. My husband now helps support her. Can my husband adopt her if he would like to? My daughter is 2 1/2 and has only known my husband as her daddy.

Check the rules you may need the birth fathers permission

You either need the birth father to consent or need the court to agree to terminate his rights. If you don't know where he is, there are still measures you can take. It can be done but you need to see a family law attorney.

Because this involves international law, you NEED an attorney.

Any question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

In most areas an adoption requires the consent of both parents. Provision is usually made for not being able to contact one parent, but an attempt to contact that parent must be proven.

The likelihood is your husband can adopt, but you NEED an attorney to shepherd you through the process.

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Originally Posted by Synnen

Because this involves International law, you NEED an attorney.

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Actually, assuming the child was born in the U.S., the only "international" law involved is how the father can be served with process in Nigeria (Nigerian law to some extent, not international law). It's mainly a matter of the law of whichever state in which the child was born and is located and where the OP resides.