Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania

What step do we need to take for my husband to legally adopt my 17 year old daughter?


Asked on 1/02/15, 5:45 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Glenn Brown Real World Law, P.C.

Does your daughter's father have a position on this?

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Answered on 1/02/15, 6:37 am
ANDREA G. TILLIS Law Offices of Andrea G. Tillis

Hi, and Happy New Year,

If your daughter's biological father can be located, then you would have to obtain his written consent and have him sign an Affidavit of Voluntary Relinquishment of Parental Rights.

If the biological father cannot be found, then you would have to file a "Petition for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights" with the Court of Common Pleas, have a hearing and obtain an "Order Terminating Parental Rights" signed by the Judge. Once the biological father's rights are terminated, your husband would be free to file a Petition for Adoption for your daughter.

All of the above can be avoided if you waited another year until your daughter's 18th birthday, at which time, the biological father's consent would not be necessary, and neither would it be necessary to file a Petition for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights.

Kind regards,

ANDREA

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Answered on 1/03/15, 9:01 am


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