You are here:

Adoption Issues/adopting my ex girlfriends daughter

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/9/2011


Question
my ex girlfriends daughter lives with me and i would like to know how do i go about adopting her? her mother visits 1 time a month and the father is not involved. i have been raising her since she was 6 moths old now she is 5

Answer
Hello Tim,

You would need to go to the family court in your town and file a petition of adoption.  Since her mother seems to be fine with the arrangement, she would probably be willing to consent to the adoption.  The court will have to do a search for the birth father to get his consent. If he refuses to concede his parental rights, the rights may have to be terminated.  This seems to be the only area that could cause issues with the finalization of the adoption.

All the Best,
Chandricka Mose

Adoption Issues

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Chandricka R. Mose, LCSW-C, LICSW, ACSW

Expertise

EXTENSIVE!! I can answer questions about issues pertaining to foster care, treatment foster care, foster care to adopt matters, kinship care, reunification and homestudy concerns and process.

Experience

I have 20 years of experience ih this arena. I have worked in preventing youth from entering care and provided case management to youth and families in care. I have conducted and supervised training for foster and adoptive parents in both the presercive and inservice phases. I have conducted and supervised parenting skills training for parents seeking to regain custody of their children. I also held positions as program supervisor and director of foster care services. I am an advocate for youth, professionals and parents that find theselves involved in the foster care and/or adoption process. I have also experienced foster care and adoption personally as I grew up with a mom who provided foster care services and have two adopted siblings.

Organizations
I am on the Advisory Committee of Kayla's Village. This is an advocacy and training organization for youth, professionals and parents involved with the child welfare system.

Publications
I have not been published, but serve as the social work expert at the Kayla's Village ask the expert free on-line service. I have also presented at a national conference on foster care and adoption issues.

Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelor of Social Work from Howard University and a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. I am clinically licensed in both Maryland and Washington, DC.

Awards and Honors
I was once honored as Employee of the Year.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.