Legal Question in Family Law in Ohio

step parent adoption

I had a daughter in 1992 in Texas. I was never married to her father. I moved with my daughter to Ohio when she was 2 months old. I got married when she was 2 years old. Her biological father has never been in her life.

I filed for child support in the spring of 2002. We have yet to go to court. She is 10 years old now and her biological father has been talking with her on the phone. She has since decided that she doesn't want to have anything to do with him and that she wants her stepfather to adopt her. He has always wanted to adopt her but I thought that it should be her decision.

Do I need her biological fathers consent to do so? She has never met him and the only contact has been by phone 3 or 4 times in the past 3 months. His name is not on her birth certificate and he showed absolutely no interest in her until he received a notice from child support.


Asked on 11/09/02, 11:26 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gregg Manes Gregg A. Manes, Esq.

Re: step parent adoption

If there is no contact with one of the parents for at least one year then you do not need to have their permission to adopt the child. However, the natural father in your situation has put himself back into the situation and he must now give consent to the adoption.

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Answered on 11/10/02, 9:50 pm


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