AboutColleen Expertise I can answer questions about the adoption process. I don't handle questions about searches for adoptive parents.
Experience I have three adopted children. The two youngest were adopted as infants. In both cases, we dealt with the birthmother during her pregnancy and a bit afterwards. Our children are now old enough to begin asking questions and we are dealing with those issues.
Expert: Colleen Date: 4/9/2007 Subject: No father on birth certificate
Question My daughter is now 3 1/2 years old. When she was born, I didn't put her biological father on the birth certificate because he used drugs. He wouldn't have been a good father, and he rarely helped with anything after she was born. He bought diapers for three months, and then after that quit seeing her. I just got married March 31, 2007, and my husband and I want him to adopt her. He's the only father she's known. Can we go through the adoption process without having to get permission from the biological father?
Answer Legally, if the birth father was not named on the birth certificate, he would not have to sign in order for an adoption to take place. However, if sometime in the future, he finds out about his daughter, he can force a paternity test to prove him the father and he could then have the adoption reversed.
In any event, your best bet is to consult with an adoption attorney in your area who will be familiar with the laws of your particular state.
