Can someone be forced into an involuntary adoption?

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Can someone be forced into an involuntary adoption?

I have a 4 year old daughter. I met my ex-boyfriend when she was about a year old. For about 3 years he was and still is actively in her life. We lived together for two and a half years. She calls him daddy and he represents himself as her father to family and friends. He even tells his biological daughter that she is her sister. My daughter’s biological father is nowhere to be found and never signed an acknowledgement of paternity. My ex-boyfriend is the only father she knows. She even refers to his parents as her grand parents. Can I take him to court so he can be forced to legally recognize her as his daughter? I am only interested in her having a legal father.

Asked on December 25, 2012 under Family Law, New York

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

No, you can NOT force someone into an involuntary adoption: adoption is absolutely a voluntary thing. There is no way way to make a man who is not the biological father of a child become that child's parent in a legal sense without his consent. Of course, as you obviously know, someone can be a parent in every other way, including by providing love, support, nurture, etc., without that.


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