Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

I was dating someone and several months after we broke up she called me and said she was pregnant. She had the baby and I saw him occasionally at first, but now have not seen him since he was about 9 months old and he's now 3 years old....I have been paying child support every month, $450 directly to the mother since he was born, with no court order. Now, she has called me and told me he calls her boyfriend "daddy" and that she wants me to sign off on my parental rights and allow him (her boyfriend) to adopt my son. He has been in my son's life since shortly after he was born and I feel it is in the best interest of my son for this man to be his father on paper as well as in life. He is already calling him "dad" and I'm getting the impression he and my ex are going to get married, etc. and I am not a part of his life. It's not easy for me by any means, but she has already led him to believe this man is his father, and the consensus between all adults (her, the boyfriend, myself) is that it's better to make it official.

Can I do this, if we all agree? What are the steps?

Thanks.


Asked on 2/18/10, 5:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Steele Steele Law Firm

The mother needs to go through the adoption process. Specifically, its a "Related Adoption". You and the mother will need to find a firm that handles adoption (like ours) and let them handle it. Something as important as an adoption is not normally done by the parties themselves. Too many issues if it is not done right.

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Answered on 2/24/10, 6:54 am


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