Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Stepchild adoption

My fiancee and I will be married in about 3 weeks, and are planning for him to legally adopt my daughter. Her biological father's name appears on her birth certificate, however, the last I heard of him he was living in another state under an assumed name. Wherever he is, he is fleeing justice (violation of Probation, Child Support enforcement).

What sort of guidelines would I have to follow regarding "notifying" him if I have no idea where he is? If I am required to serve paperwork, would it be served to his name or to his unlawfully assummed name? (His unlawfully assumed name is not verifyable and I am not sure whether or not he is still using it.)


Asked on 7/30/99, 12:56 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Stepchild adoption

You are required to send a copy of the adoption petition to his last known address (address to "real name" aka "assumed name"). The court will probably also require you to publish a notice of the adoption proceeding in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where he is believed to live or work. If he doesn't respond within a specified time period, you should be permitted to go forward with the adoption proceeding.

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Answered on 7/30/99, 3:50 pm


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