Legal Question in Family Law in Arkansas

How hard is adoption process if biological father can not be found?

My ex left in Nov 2004 our divorce was not final until July 2005 because of difficulty finding him. Since he left he has not provided financial, or emotionally for our daughter (who was 16 months when he left)He doesn't pay the court ordered child support and doesn't try to have contact with her. I am now remarried and as far as my daughter thinks he is ''daddy'' and my husband wants to adopt her. Can he adopt her if my ex protests? or what would be my current husbands options if my ex can't be found to willing sign his parental rights away? Could he still adopt my daughter?


Asked on 12/03/06, 2:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joshua Drake Hobbs, Garnett, Naramore & Drake, P.A.

Re: How hard is adoption process if biological father can not be found?

Normally a parent can VETO a step-parent adoption no matter how good the step-parent is. However, anyone who has failed to have contact for one year or failed to pay support for a year loses all

"veto" power. That does not mean he could not come into court and beg for the adoption to be denied, he just can't veto it.

If he consents then it is easy. There are ways to get the adoption even if you cannot find him. Get a local attorney who does family law.

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Answered on 12/03/06, 5:51 pm


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