Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri

Step parent adoption in Missouri...

Please help me understand this. I am a stepmother to a wonderful little boy whos bio mom is not involved. She hasn't seen him in over two years now and hasn't financially supported him (although there is a court order for her to pay child support) for more than 3 years. She does speak to him on the phone about once or twice a month, however, as much as 3 months has gone between phone calls.

I found this on the Missouri Bar website...

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When Parental Consent is not Needed

Citation: ? 453.040

A parent:

Whose rights have been terminated

Whose identity is unknown

Who has been found incompetent

Who has abandoned or failed to support or care for the child

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What exactly does ''abandoned or failed to support or care for the child'' mean?

I want to adopt my stepson and we think we can build a case for abandonment and adopt without the bio mom's consent. However, I can't find a good definition of this statement to see if it's an option for us.

P.S. we live in Illinois now, but Bio mom still lives in missouri and that is where the custody judgement was made.

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