Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana

do-it-yourself adoption of a stepchild

I am the birth mother of a 5-year old daughter. I have sole custody of her. At the time of her birth, her biological father (to whom I was never married) decided he wanted to be part of her life. He signed papers at the hospital saying that he is her father. We went to court in October 1994 to establish paternity, which he never denied, and to determine child support, etc.

He paid child support in the amount of $50 in July of 1995, but has never paid it since. The last time he saw my daughter was June 1996.

My daughter has no idea who he is, she only knows my husband. My husband is "daddy" to her. My husband and I also have a child together.

He wants to adopt my daughter. I have spoken to a lawyer previously, and I know that in Indiana, her biological father cannot fight the adoption because of his abandonment. She will be starting school in the fall of 2000, and my husband and myself really want her to share our last name.

Can I file the paperwork myself and save us the cost of a lawyer?

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