If I have been raising my now 14 year old stepdaughter since she was born, how can I adopt her?
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If I have been raising my now 14 year old stepdaughter since she was born, how can I adopt her?
Her birth father has done very little for her since her birth and is behind almost $25k in child support that is only $33 a week. My daughter asked me if she could change her last name which is his to my last name, which started me to research what rights we have. We have lived in the state for 6 years but she was born in another. What steps do I need to take to get this process started and in what state do I take them in?
Asked on October 23, 2012 under Family Law, Nevada
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
The only way that you can adopt your stepdaughter is if her biological father is willing to let you adopt the child by way of a written agreement after a court hearing on the subject and approved order. Unless the biological father is willing to do such then you will not be able to adopt.
As to name change, you should consult with a family law attorney about a name change petition to be filed in the local county court house.
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