Legal Adoption?

Question

My boyfriend and I have been taking care of our "daughter" since we were 17 we're both 22 now from the day she was born. Her mother doesn't come around or visit, she abandoned her after birth. She is five now and I want to know if we can legally adopt her without the consent of her bio mother. Her bio father is unknown.

Answer 1

you sure can and should. if abandonment can be prven then it is a simple process through the courts. talk to a family law attorney it's really the only place to start.

Answer 2

I assume that you have legal guardianship.  If so, you can contact social services to find out what the steps are to adopt the child when the mother no longer comes around (you will likely have to locate her).  If she has a legal drug history, then it's possible to adopt the child without the mother on abandonment.

If you did not apply for legal guardianship, you have some problems. Again Social Services is likely your best option.

In either case, you can also feel free to contact an adoption lawyer INSTEAD of social services. This is more likely to help you keep the child with you while decisions are made.