Legal Question in Family Law in Iowa
Do my boyfriend and I have to be married for him to adopt my 17 year old daughter? The three of us have lived together for two years. The bio dad hasn't been in her life (no contact, no child support) for 11 years. Also, would we have to find the bio dad have sign a termination agreement? He is on the birth certificate, but we were never married and never went to court to establish any kind of custody agreement.
1 Answer from Attorneys
As to your first question the answer is no, but there is no procedure for a person to "sign over" their parental rights like the title to a used car. You can petition for termination because of abandonment under Iowa code chapter 600. The easier way would be to wait until your daughter is 18 and then your questions will be more or less moot at that point.
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