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bobhforker · Nov 30, 2008, 07:05 PM

My fianc and I are getting married and I want to adopt her kids. How do I go about looking for an atty for that matter, and lets say I go through all the work and the birth father didn't give consent? What are my options then? Also, how do I go about changing their last names tomine if possible?

N0help4u · Nov 30, 2008, 07:43 PM

The birth father needs to give consent so you might as well start by discussing it with him.

ScottGem · Nov 30, 2008, 07:59 PM

First you get married. Most states require being married for a year before alllowing the adoption.

Look in the yellow pages for Family Law attornies.

However, if the bio father is a part of their lives and doesn't want to relinquish, then you probably won't be able to adopt or change their names.

Fr_Chuck · Nov 30, 2008, 08:45 PM

Yes as scott mentioned most US states want you to be married for one year first.

But you may as well start asking the birth father. If he is not paying support, mother needs to get busy pushing collection, since many will sign over rights so they don't have to pay support ( when adopted)

Now if the father is visiting the children and paying his support, he may not want to give it up