[handls]

I live in Ohio. My husband received a letter the other day from a probate court stating the judge had decided his consent wasn't needed for his daughter to be adopted by her stepfather. He pays child support, isn't behind and there has never been any thing saying he wasn't a;;owed around her or anything like that. He wasn't even aware someone was trying to adopt his daughter until that letter. How can the judge decide this without his knowledge and is there anything he can do?

[ScottGem]

Get an attorney and fight it. I find this very unusual behavior on the part of a judge. I suspect that his ex lied about his involvement with his child and that he was properly informed of the action.

I would immediately fax or overnight a lett to the judge saying:

Your Honor,
I was very surprised to receive your letter of <insert date>. Your letter was the first notice I received that an adoption was even being considered.

I do not understand how you can rule in favor of this adoption without even giving me the chance to defend against it.

Please let me know when I can meet with you to discuss this matter.



Then go get an attorney to go with him.

One point, you said there was nothing to say he wasn't allowed near her, but has he been part of her life? Paying support isn't enough. If he doesn't visit with the child, doesn't call her, isn't there for special occasions, that may be why the judge acted as he did.

But if he has been in contact with her, include that in the letter.