[AbbyNic]

My 4 year old little girl's biological father left when I found out that I was pregnant. I have only spoken to him 3 times since and they were all within the 1st 5 months that she was alive. (Once was to tell me to stop telling people she was his... :cool: and the other times he told me he had a new life and we weren't part of it) Anyway... we have had a paternity test done through State Child Support and he avoided it at all cost. He was eventually ordered to pay $270 monthly and carry health insurance on her. (Plus over $6,000 in back support.) This only lasted about 5 months and then nothing because he lost that job. We haven't seen any money or any other support in well over a year.(He has never laid eyes on her and doesn't want to as far as I know... ) No custody has ever been established because there has never been a need to. He lives in another state and has 2 other children with other women that he doesn't see. (Terribly sad for all of the kids :()
I am now engaged to the only 'Daddy' she has ever known. Her biological father has never signed her birth certificate so I was just wondering what we need to do for my fiance' to adopt her and for us to at least get a name change :confused: especially since a paternity test has been done... (btw she has my lastname and not his) I just want to make sure that if something happened to me that my husband would raise our daughter and not some stranger.
Thanks for your time! :D
-A

[Synnen]

You need the biological father to either voluntarily terminate his parental rights for an adoption to go through--or you need to get a court to terminate his rights. Generally, a court will not do so unless the biological parent is a danger to the child--or the biological parent just cannot be reached (through a good faith search).

Also, most states require that you be married for a specific amount of time before a step parent adoption can happen.

You need a lawyer.