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My ex-wife remarried several years ago and they want me to give up my parental rights. I haven't seen my son since he was 6months old, he's now 7yrs. I pay child support but that's all I do. I know many of you are snickering but, hey, you don't know the details of our past and present situation.
Anyway, she wants me to do all the paperwork and fees for the stepparent adoption but, I have no clue where to start. I can't afford a lawyer at the moment. There used to be a banner on the homepage of this site that went to an agency that does the papers for you, if anyone has that site/company, I would greatly appreciate it and so would my ex. Or, if anyone knows where I can start would be of great help. Thank you for reading this post.
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Hi,
You can let your x-wife know that her husband is the one filing for the adoption, so he has to start the process leagally. He can get the book "How To Adopt Your Stepchild In California" Sorry I do not know the authors name. But it is available at your local library or at [url]www.nolo.com[/url] . It is wonderful of you to be allowing this. Take pride in doing the right thing.
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Originally posted by Saili
Nolo press has the book mentioned above "How to adopt your stepchild in California", you should suggest it to them. Neither of you guys needs to have a lawyer if the adoption will not be contested.
Saili
She and her new husband will have to start the paperwork. If you want to give up your rights you can offer to give her some money to help with the legal fees but they are required to do all the legal work. In our state we were able to have our lawyer represent us, our ason, the bdad, the bmom and file all the paperwork. Ours was an uncontested adoption between two states. All we had to do was pay for the homestudy and lawyer fees and a few other odd and end fees. All you really have to do is sign a form that their lawyer will draw up terminating you parental rights, then you are done (unless your state requires you to attend a court date to explain to a judge why you are doing so, our state did not require this). As soon as the adoption process is finalized you are no longer the legal dad and no longer have to pay child support. I do commend you for doing the right thing all these years paying child support, but don't let them pressure you into giving up your rights if you don't want to. It is your child too even if you don't get to see him very much.