Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia
Can I adopt my 7 year old step child?
Her real mother has legally abadoned her by not paying child support for a year. She neglects my step daughter by telling her she is going to call and texts and it is like hardly ever now. She never sees her because she doesn't want to pay for a service to watch them (she has supervised visits). We know in fact she has money and can afford the service. There is so much more, but I would be writing a book if I kept on. Please help. This is by FAR in the childs best interest. She could care less about the bio mom anymore.
2 Answers from Attorneys
I assume you are the stepmother and you are married to the biological father. It may be possible due to the abandonment to have the court terminate the bio mom's parental rights in connection with obtaining the adoption. It would be quicker of course if the bio mom would voluntarily surrender her parental rights. Once the adoption is granted she would no longer have the child support obligation. She would still have the obligation to pay the child support delinquency as of the date the adoption was granted. I would also need to know your age.
Without knowing more facts I cannot tell you if you can or cannot adopt, and step one would be to meet with an experienced adoption attorney to determine a course of action. If you are in or near Atlanta, feel free to call me at 404-768-3509.