Step parent adoption in nc?

Question

My husband really wants to adopt my son. My son is 8 and his bio father has never seen him, paid any support, and his name is not even on his birth cert. I tried to serve him papers about 7 years ago for child support and the state could not find him. He has always denied that my son was his, because I cheated on him for revenge because he cheated on me. I was young and stupid. Does anyone know how I should go about this, I dont want to have to look for him, because I think he will hide again. I also am curious if they can make him take a test to see if he is the father and if he is not what will happen then. I dont even remember the other man's name. I have changed my life around and really want all the bad stuff to go away. My husband really loves my son and my son loves him. Can anyone help!!!!

Answer 1

I would try and contact a lawyer you might not have to serve him with any papers as his name is not on the birth cretificate and he does not pay child support

Answer 2

If you do not know where he is, you can publish a public notice in the paper stating your intent to have your son adopted by his stepfather.  If the biofather does not respond to the notice within the given time frame (usually about 30-45 days) then the adoption will move forward as though he consented to it.  If you do track him down, you can have him ordered by the court to take a DNA test to prove if he is or is not the father of the child.  

If he is proven not to be the father, you would then have to hunt down the other man, and have him take a DNA test, which would be rather hard since you don't remember his name.  

Publishing a public notice makes the stepparent adoption process a little longer, and a little more pricey, but it is worth it in the end.  

Most lawyers will give you a free initial consultation, so call around and see if you can make a few appointments with a few different lawyers.  Be sure to write down your questions ahead of time, and bring the list with you so that you can be sure to get all of the answers that you are looking for and not get flustered and forget to ask anything that you really want to have answered.  After you have visited with a few different lawyers, pick the one that you are most comfortable with and get started on the process!

You will need copies of your birth certificate, your husband's, and your son's, copies of your marriage license from each marriage, as well as any custody and divorce decrees relating to the child.  Some of these documents can take a few weeks to obtain, so you will want to start on those as soon as possible.  Your state may or may not require a homestudy for a stepparent adoption, many states do not require a homestudy for stepparent adoptions, but since adoption laws vary from not only state to state, but the individual counties within each state, that is a question that a lawyer in your area can answer.  

Good luck with your stepparent adoption!  You can check out the link below for more information on stepparent adoption!

Answer 3

Go on the Maury show.