[bellasks]

My son's biological father was physically and mentally abusive to me and my son I left him and filed an order of protection against him I haven't seen or made contact with him since, now it has been almost three years and I recently married my husband and he wants to adopt my son is there any way for us to proceed with the adoption without involving the biological father and what is the legal definition of abandonment of a child and what does the state of Arizona consider to be an unfit father all information received is appreciated

[s_cianci]

Any adoption would require the biological father's consent. At the very least, he must be given the opportunity to consent to or contest the adoption. If he does not respond then the adoption may proceed without his consent.