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    mikesgirl0609's Avatar
    mikesgirl0609 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 13, 2012, 08:59 PM
    Step Parent Adoption / Termination of Parental rights
    I live in Plattsburgh, NY, I have Two children with my ex who is not and has not been in there life for over a year. I have sole custody of both children and he has no visitation/contact rights. He molested our then 5 year old daughter which led to me getting sole custody. My husband of three years wants to adopt both children. How would I go about terminating their bio fathers rights and my husband adopting them and how much would it likely cost to do all of this. Not sure if it matters but there is a restraining order on him for my daughter until 2019.
    Synnen's Avatar
    Synnen Posts: 7,927, Reputation: 2443
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    #2

    Jun 13, 2012, 09:29 PM
    Contact a family law attorney in your area. The termination of parental rights should be a part of the adoption proceedings. Costs are going to vary--sorry, I can't help you with that.

    You will either have to get the bio father to voluntarily relinquish rights or prove to the court that it is in the children's best interest for them to be adopted. I'm guessing that with the molestation charges that it will not be hard to prove that.

    I tell everyone the same thing about adoptions, though: You CAN go through one without a lawyer. You can also set a bone without a doctor. I don't recommend either. One mistake and all of your work can be undone. In other words---all it takes is ONE mistake for an adoption to be overturned. It's worth using an attorney to make sure it's done right.
    mikesgirl0609's Avatar
    mikesgirl0609 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jun 13, 2012, 09:35 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Synnen View Post
    Contact a family law attorney in your area. The termination of parental rights should be a part of the adoption proceedings. Costs are going to vary--sorry, I can't help you with that.

    You will either have to get the bio father to voluntarily relinquish rights or prove to the court that it is in the children's best interest for them to be adopted. I'm guessing that with the molestation charges that it will not be hard to prove that.

    I tell everyone the same thing about adoptions, though: You CAN go through one without a lawyer. You can also set a bone without a doctor. I don't recommend either. One mistake and all of your work can be undone. In other words---all it takes is ONE mistake for an adoption to be overturned. It's worth using an attorney to make sure it's done right.
    Thank you, That is very helpful
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