Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana
Surrender parental rights
hi, i am married, have a 5 year old girl. she has never seen her biological father and he has married and has other children. My husband wants to adopt my child as he has been the only father she knows. Chasmine my daughter will be starting school soon and we want to get her name changed. her real father will to contest anything. what do i need to do to have her name changed and also what do i need to do for my husband to adopt her..
thanks in advance
jill
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Surrender parental rights
If the biological father will sign a consent to the adoption, then you can have your husband adopt your daughter and change her last name in the adoption proceeding as well. This will save time and expense by not doing both a name change and then an adoption.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Good Luck!
Buffy M. Bryant
Attorney at Law
Re: Surrender parental rights
Under the circumstances you describe, your husband should have no problem adopting your daughter in Indiana.
Her name change would be done as part of the adoption proceeding.
Adoption will sever her biological father's rights so that he will not have any rights to visit her or any obligations to pay future child support.
He would still be responsible for back child support he owes, however.
Hope this information is helpful to you!