[jennymerc76]

How many yr do the courts like you and your spouce have to be together before they consider adoption. I am trying to locate my daughters biological father so that I can see if he will relinguish is parental rights. He agreed he would do it a few yrs back, but its been a while.
Her biological father hasn't been in contact with her in nearly 4 yrs, and he is 20,000 behind in child support. He has 2 other children too.
If the father agrees to relinguish parental rights, would it still be up to the courts whether they relinguish his parental rights or not?
Please help me out!
By the way, I have been with thi wman for 6 yrs now and married for 3, and he wants to adopt

[macksmom]

Usually most judges just want you to be married a least a year... your case (being together 6 and married 3)... is exactly what they are looking for... stability.

I don't believe the decision would be up to the judge in this case, as you and the bio-father are both agreeing to reliquishing his rights, and you have someone to adopt the child... it's simply like an adoption case.
Even if the decision was up to the judge, I can't see any that would rule against it.

[ScottGem]

You NEED to hire an attorney to prepare the adoption petition. Your attorney will tell you what steps you need to take to contact the bio-father to get him to relinquish. Its not absolutely necessary to get his signature. If you can show that there has been no contact and that you made a good faith effort to locate him, that should be sufficient.

If you do get his signature, the courts will still make the final decision. But, as long as your husband is ready and willing to adopt, I don't see the judge refusing unless the bio father is coerced into signing against his will.