[emilou]

I have a 4 year old son who has never meant his father. His father is not on his birth certificate and he has never seen him or paid any form of child support. I am getting married next month and my fiancé would like to adopt my son. Does anyone know if there is a certain amount of time before parental rights are terminated or are there steps I need to take to get this into motion?

[Fr_Chuck]

There is no "time" for a bio fathers right to be terminated. While he has not proven hisself to be the father that does not mean after proving it though DNA he does not have them.

So you hire an attorney, the attorney contacts the bio father and gets him to sign over his rights to the child to allow the new partner to adopt.

[emilou]

Is it easier if the father wants to sign over his rights?

[Synnen]

It's MUCH easier if the biodad wants to sign over his rights.

However, the court may not allow an adoption until AFTER you have been married a certain amount of time. That rule varies by area, though.