Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

step parent wishes to adopt

Bio mom has not contacted the child in four months now. She does not pay support and is not ordered to. Stepmom would love to adopt, and the child wishes the same. Counselor feels it is in the child's best interest for mother's rights to be terminated. Does Virginia require a homestudy for stepparent adoption? Do we need to wait a certain amount of time before we can file, would it be better to wait a certain amount of time? Bio is the type that if we asked her to sign over rights she would refuse, but would most likely sign the papers if served. Please help become the legal family that we are in our hearts. We do not have alot of money so we are trying to do as much research as we can before filing.


Asked on 6/09/03, 1:42 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: step parent wishes to adopt

You have offered no credible information as to why the natural mother's parental rights should be terminated. The fact that she has not paid any voluntary support for her child or made contact

within the last four months do not qualify as such reasons.

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Answered on 6/09/03, 8:29 am


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