Whitney - posted on 02/02/2010 ( 4 moms have responded )
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My fiance and I are getting married May 7, 2010 in the local courthouse. My fiance loves my son to eternity and wants to adopt him after we get married. Does any one have any tips or advice or better yet how the process is done?
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Carla - posted on 01/20/2012
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Justine, I would contact your county courthouse, as I imagine each state will be different. We had to put an ad in two local newspapers (even though we live in Michigan and the ex lived in Washington State), for 3 weeks, and that served as notification. But he hadn't had contact with the children for years before that.
We couldn't afford the adoption fee when the kids were little, but they went through their entire schooling under the name Allaire (their step-father's name). When Rod turned 18, he and Roni (then 20) went together and got their names changed. They did this mostly for my husband, as they were known by his name since they were wee. They had to have their drivers licenses in their legal name, but they graduated under Allaire, and they were covered under my husband's insurance. I guess it depends on what you want, but if you can't afford the legal procedure, first check with your state to make sure it's legal, then just use your present husband's name. A piece of paper doesn't make them any more his. He is the dad of the heart, not the dad of the gene. I pray God bless you both as you raise your little ones.
Angela - posted on 01/20/2012
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This is an old thread!
In the UK you don't have to be married to the child's other parent to adopt. In fact you don't have to be married to adopt period!
Didn't think US Law demanded marriage either?
Justine - posted on 01/19/2012
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Do either of you know how long you must be married in order to go through with the step-parent adoption? I live in Colorado.
Heather - posted on 02/02/2010
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I do! My husband is in the process of adopting my two boys from a previous marriage. I don't know what state you live in, but here in Colorado they have a step parent adoption program. We went to the court house and got packets (one for each child). All we have to do is fill it out and turn it in. I can't remember the cost off the top of my head, somewhere between $500 and $1000 per child. I do know it was less then $1500 for both... Anyway, the biological father has to agree to it, but as long as he doesn't contest it that is pretty much all there is (or so we have been told). Like I said we are still in the process. If you call your court house you should be able to ask if they have something along those lines and get more details. The packets cost $5 a each.
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