[diditdid]

Can I adopt my girlfriends' two children when the father has not seen them in over a year and owes 4,000+ in child support? He left them in GA in October of 2008 and has recently moved from CA to AL after child support offices finally started taking money out of his paycheck and now they don't know where he is again. He has been threatening and harassing her so much that she has had to change her number to be left alone and they are afraid of what he might do. They recently agreed on a time for visitation recently since her divorce papers clearly state that visitation is only when she agrees to it and has had 2-3 days notice before hand. The father failed to show up at the agreed time and place and instead demanded that she meet him elsewhere. After refusing, he threatened to go to her relatives house where he believed she was staying. We both love each other and want what is best for her children. She tells me that I am a better father than her ex ever was and the kids are starting to call me daddy and whatnot in their own baby language. (ages 1 and 3).

[hheath541]

I doubt you'd be able to adopt them since the biological father still has parental rights. He would need to either sign them over or have them stripped by the court system. Until that happens, it doesn't matter if you're married or not.

[cdad]

Most courts require you to be married at least a year before an adoption goes through. Otherwise she would have to give up her rights to so you could adopt.