Legal Question in Family Law in California

Absent Parent

Have had sole physical joint legal custody of child for nine years. For the last nine years only contact to child from other parent was a couple of phone calls and that was seven years ago. Absent parent has never paid child support. How do we go about step-parent adoption for child,

changing of childs last name. Does absent parent have any rights? Don't know where parent is or how to find parent.


Asked on 3/02/06, 2:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Geoffrey Sutliff Geoffrey A. Sutliff, Attorney at Law

Re: Absent Parent

Step-parent adoption would be poosible and probable in your case. The initial step is to file a petition for adoption. Check at your local county courthouse for a package or check on the county court's website. The other parent does have rights, and even though by statute they are likily to lose their rights due to no contact for at least one year, you have to take certain steps to notify them.

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Answered on 3/02/06, 9:00 pm


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