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ParentageAdoption

Stepparent adoption — how does this work in California?

CArosa_p1 month ago

My current husband wants to adopt my child. Bio dad's parental rights need to end first, right?

1 reply

✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first

Daniel Okafor avatarDaniel OkaforVerified Attorney1 month ago

Correct. Two paths in CA. (a) Bio father consents — file an Adoption Request (ADOPT-200) with his signed consent. Faster, cheaper. (b) He doesn't consent — you'd need a court finding terminating his parental rights, usually based on abandonment (Family Code §7822 — typically failure to communicate or support for a year-plus). The investigator-interview piece adds 3-6 months. Total cost varies — $500-$2,500 in attorney fees plus a couple hundred in court fees and home-visit charges. Not advice on your specific case.

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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.