Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Need help on an adoption

I am married to a women that had a child from a previuos relationship(not marrige).When i met her and came into the childs life the child was 1 month from turnig 3 years old and only seen his nautral father a few times.The child is now 9 years old i have been married to the childs mother for 4 years.The father has never made contact with the child sence i've been around.I have never spoke to him. He has never paid any support nor has he ever pursued to do so.The child thinks i'm his father.I would like to adopt the child.But it's my understanding thet the nautral father has to sign now.And he will not do it.keep in mind that he has never made any attemp to visit the child or take any financial responsablity.Is thier anyway around the fact he will not show up in court becouse we can't get him served with the court petition.The only reason he is doing this is to make our life uncomfortable.we are scared to pursue the child support in fear he may gain some visitaion rights.This person leads a life that we don't want the child exposed to.He is always in and out of jail,a very agressive person,that deals in drugs and drinking.If anyone knows of something we can do to adopt this child with out the fathers involvment please let me know.


Asked on 10/09/01, 1:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John A. Giffen Law Offices of John A. Giffen

Re: Need help on an adoption

You may be able to adopt without the fathers involvement. This depends on several things. Primarily what state do you reside in and what state was the child born in? In California the father of this child would be an alleged father and all is needed is to attempt to serve him with a notice to the alleged father that there is an adoption pending for a child that he may be the father of. Im not sure from the caption of the case if you live in CA if you do not you need to check with an adoption attorney in that state and determine what steps you need to take to adopt and terminate the rights of the putative father.

John A. Giffen

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Answered on 11/22/01, 2:30 pm


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