Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Want to adopt step children mother in another country wont comply

I live in massachusetts. I have two step children who were born in Jamaica shortly after marrying their father. The kids in Jamaica always lived with their aunt and father. Their mother abondoned them at a young age and occasionally saw them throughout the years. I have had them now for almost 3 years and there has only been one brief conversation with their bio mother. They have no connection with her at all. She has no contact otherwise with them. I asked her for me to adopt them and she ignores me and will not agree. Is there anyway I can still do this without her signature. She is still a jamaican resident and myself a US citizen. Their father wants me to also adopt, we have been married for almost 5 years. Please help me. thank you


Asked on 1/25/08, 2:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gregory Lee Gregory P. Lee, Attorney at Law

Re: Want to adopt step children mother in another country wont comply

Without the mother's assent, you cannot adopt the stepchildren unless she is found to be so unfit that her parental rights should be removed against her desires. I won't say that I know for sure that parent's CAN'T initiate an involuntary adoption, but I -do- know that it is generally a result of a DSS removal of the children.

Suggest to the biological mother an "open" adoption, in which she retains visitation rights.

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Answered on 1/27/08, 11:40 am


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