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	<title>Ask the Lawyer @ Dear Esq. &#187; Adoption</title>
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	<link>http://www.dearesq.com</link>
	<description>Answers to Your Legal Questions</description>
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		<title>Is There a Way to Put my Name on my Stepson&#8217;s Birth Certificate?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/is-there-a-way-to-put-my-name-on-my-stepsons-birth-certificate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/is-there-a-way-to-put-my-name-on-my-stepsons-birth-certificate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Anon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
<category>biological father</category><category>birth certificate</category><category>paternity</category><category>stepson</category>
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		<description><![CDATA[I married my wife in late 2007...she had a son with another man in 2004 out of wedlock and did not list the biological father on the birth certificate. Is there a way I can place my name on my son's birth certificate so that he is my son and not just a "step-son"?  I've raised him as my own since early 2006.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/is-there-a-way-to-put-my-name-on-my-stepsons-birth-certificate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>In an Adoption, Is there a Way to Show Proof of Paternity Without Doing a DNA Test?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/in-an-adoption-is-there-a-way-to-show-proof-of-paternity-without-doing-a-dna-test/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/in-an-adoption-is-there-a-way-to-show-proof-of-paternity-without-doing-a-dna-test/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:28:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Anon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paternity]]></category>
<category>adopting</category><category>adoption</category><category>biological parent</category><category>family law</category><category>paternity test</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/?p=952</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My boyfriend/fiancee's ex had a son without his knowledge. My boyfriend wants nothing to do with her or the child and she claims that there is no name on the birth certificate. Is there a way the adoption can be done with out a DNA test or going to a Wisconsin court?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/in-an-adoption-is-there-a-way-to-show-proof-of-paternity-without-doing-a-dna-test/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>In North Carolina, Can my Boyfriend Adopt my Child Without me Giving up Parental Right?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/in-north-carolina-can-my-boyfriend-adopt-my-child-without-me-giving-up-parental-right/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/in-north-carolina-can-my-boyfriend-adopt-my-child-without-me-giving-up-parental-right/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Anon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Termination of Rights]]></category>
<category>adopting</category><category>adoption</category><category>family law</category><category>parental rights</category><category>termination of rights</category>
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		<description><![CDATA[I have a 17 yr old daughter that wants my boyfriend to adopt her. Her father said he would sign a paper to give up his rights.  My boyfriend would like to adopt her.  Can this be done in the state of NC without me giving up my rights?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/in-north-carolina-can-my-boyfriend-adopt-my-child-without-me-giving-up-parental-right/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My Pregnant Daughter is a Minor with a Drug Habit, How do I File for Adoption for my Unborn Grandchild?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/my-pregnant-daughter-is-a-minor-with-a-drug-habit-how-do-i-file-for-adoption-for-my-unborn-grandchild/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/my-pregnant-daughter-is-a-minor-with-a-drug-habit-how-do-i-file-for-adoption-for-my-unborn-grandchild/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Durgavich, Esq.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child Custody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grandparents Rights]]></category>
<category>adoption</category><category>custody of grandchild</category><category>grandparent</category><category>parent is a drug user</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/my-pregnant-daughter-is-a-minor-with-a-drug-habit-how-do-i-file-for-adoption-for-my-unborn-grandchild/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What is the proceedure in Oklahoma to file custody of my unborn grandchild, the mother is 17, unmarried and a meth user?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/my-pregnant-daughter-is-a-minor-with-a-drug-habit-how-do-i-file-for-adoption-for-my-unborn-grandchild/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My Mother Passed Away and my Father Remarried, What would Happen to my Younger Siblings? Can I Gain Custody?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/my-mother-passed-away-and-my-father-remarried-what-would-happen-to-my-younger-siblings-can-i-gain-custody/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/my-mother-passed-away-and-my-father-remarried-what-would-happen-to-my-younger-siblings-can-i-gain-custody/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Durgavich, Esq.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child Custody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
<category>adoption</category><category>custodial rights</category><category>custody</category><category>siblings</category><category>step mother</category><category>stepmother</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/my-mother-passed-away-and-my-father-remarried-what-would-happen-to-my-younger-siblings-can-i-gain-custody/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My mother passed away in February of this year. My father, of course, now has my younger siblings. He remarried about a year before my mother passed away. If something were to happen to him and he would pass away, who would get custody over my younger siblings?  So if something would happen to my dad, and my step-mom never went and tried to get custody of them, where would they go? And would I be able to gain custody?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/my-mother-passed-away-and-my-father-remarried-what-would-happen-to-my-younger-siblings-can-i-gain-custody/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do I Need to File for Adoption for my Husbands Unborn Child if the Mother Wants to Terminate Rights?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/do-i-need-to-file-for-adoption-for-my-husbands-unborn-child-if-the-mother-wants-to-terminate-rights/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/do-i-need-to-file-for-adoption-for-my-husbands-unborn-child-if-the-mother-wants-to-terminate-rights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Durgavich, Esq.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paternity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Termination of Rights]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/do-i-need-to-file-for-adoption-for-my-husbands-unborn-child-if-the-mother-wants-to-terminate-rights/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My husband recently had an affair. The woman is pregnant and doesn't want the baby. She has offered to let my husband and I have full custody. Am I correct in thinking that we would need to do a "stepparent" adoption? Does his name go on the Birth Certificate at birth? ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/do-i-need-to-file-for-adoption-for-my-husbands-unborn-child-if-the-mother-wants-to-terminate-rights/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Handle Sibling Adoption or Custody</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-handle-sibling-adoption-or-custody/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-handle-sibling-adoption-or-custody/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Anon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child Custody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finances]]></category>
<category>adoption</category><category>CPS</category><category>sibling adoption</category><category>sibling custody</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-handle-sibling-adoption-or-custody/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Therefore leaving us with no income, the only money that ever comes in is $380 a month, which is supposed to go to myself and my brother, and its from my mother. We never knew this was from my mother because we thought she was dead.  I later found out that it was all a story worked up so my dad could get the money every month and not let us know about it. My  brother and his girlfriend which are later getting married said that if it comes down to it, they will take custody of me.  They have normal income, and they have more than enough to support not only themselves but myself also. How would my adult brother take legal action to have custody over me?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-handle-sibling-adoption-or-custody/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>If I was Adopted, Am I Entitled to any of my Birth Father&#8217;s Estate?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/if-i-was-adopted-am-i-entitled-to-any-of-my-birth-fathers-estate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/if-i-was-adopted-am-i-entitled-to-any-of-my-birth-fathers-estate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Durgavich, Esq.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wills, Trust & Estate Planning]]></category>
<category>adoption</category><category>estate</category><category>inherit</category><category>inheritance</category><category>intestate succession</category><category>will</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/if-i-was-adopted-am-i-entitled-to-any-of-my-birth-fathers-estate/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was born to a very prominent Miami family (fathers side)  My mother placed me with the State of Florida in 1959. My state Case Worker gave me copies of my state file. I know who my father is because of the file.  I was eventually adopted and after 13 years removed for child abuse. Do I have any legal entitlements under Florida law as an heir to this man. He has never married.  ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/if-i-was-adopted-am-i-entitled-to-any-of-my-birth-fathers-estate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My FiancÃ© Wants to Adopt my Child, Where Do We Start? Do We Need to Hire an Attorney?</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/my-fiance-wants-to-adopt-my-child-where-do-we-start-do-we-need-to-hire-an-attorney/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/my-fiance-wants-to-adopt-my-child-where-do-we-start-do-we-need-to-hire-an-attorney/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Durgavich, Esq.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paternity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Termination of Rights]]></category>
<category>adopting</category><category>adoption</category><category>biological father</category><category>incacerated</category><category>paternity</category><category>terminating rights</category><category>termination of parental rights</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/my-fiance-wants-to-adopt-my-child-where-do-we-start-do-we-need-to-hire-an-attorney/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Her father and I were engaged to be married but broke up 4 months before she was born. He is in the army and was in the state of Hawaii through out my whole pregnancy. He never called to see if or when she was born. I met someone when she was 3 months old we have been together ever since and he has taken on the responsibility of being her father. My fiancee wants to adopt her. He loves her like his own. He has been there for all the doctor appointments, first shots, first word, first step, first everything. Will adopting her be expensive, and what about her bio-father. He never did sign her birth certificate. We are planning to get married in the fall of 2007 and wanted to add adoption to celebration.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.dearesq.com/my-fiance-wants-to-adopt-my-child-where-do-we-start-do-we-need-to-hire-an-attorney/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Adopt or Gain Custody of Siblings</title>
		<link>http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-adopt-or-gain-custody-of-siblings/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-adopt-or-gain-custody-of-siblings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2007 15:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Durgavich, Esq.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child Custody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
<category>adopt a relative</category><category>adopting a brother</category><category>adopting a sibling</category><category>adopting a sister</category><category>adoption services</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dearesq.com/how-to-adopt-or-gain-custody-of-siblings/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I would like to know how to go about getting custody of a younger sibling, I live in Idaho and the child in question is in Wyoming. I am 20 years of age, financially stable and completely supporting myself. I am also a child of the foster care system, and was adopted when I was in the Fourth Grade. I lived with my biological mother until I was three, until her then boyfriend beat me so severely that I had to be hospitalized. 
I am 20 years of age, financially stable and completely supporting myself. I am also a child of the foster care system, and was adopted when I was in the Fourth Grade. I lived with my biological mother until I was three, until her then boyfriend beat me so severely that I had to be hospitalized. I was then put in foster care, and she was given certain terms to live by in order to regain full custody of me, i.e. becoming financially stable, staying away from the abusive boyfriend, staying clean. My mother however, was unable to live up to these standards, and ended up losing full custody of me. I have a younger brother, the fruit of my biological mother and abusive boyfriend. I am 20 years of age, financially stable and completely supporting myself. I am also a child of the foster care system, and was adopted when I was in the Fourth Grade. I lived with my biological mother until I was three, until her then boyfriend beat me so severely that I had to be hospitalized. I was then put in foster care, and she was given certain terms to live by in order to regain full custody of me, i.e. becoming financially stable, staying away from the abusive boyfriend, staying clean. My mother however, was unable to live up to these standards, and ended up losing full custody of me.

I have a younger brother, the fruit of my biological mother and abusive boyfriend. Because of excessive drug use, my brother was for a short time placed in foster care with me. I believe that the incident that incurred the action was when my mother was arrested for a DUI with my brother in the backseat of the car. I don't know how, but she ended up getting my brother back, until a few years after that incident, he burned down their home. He was left alone, while my mother and her boyfriend went out to the bar. My brother was 8. After that, he was placed in the custody of his father's parents, where he stayed until they sent him to a boy's home.

During that time, my mother has been on and off of drugs, always saying that she is cleaning up and moving on with her life, but it never lasts. She recently spent two years in jail, for robbery, and taking drugs into jail. While she was in jail, she met a man who was also in jail, who she is now living with, and has had a child with him. As much as I would like to think that she has cleaned up and has gotten her life straightened out, I don't think that it will last.

Her history of being a mother is very clouded, with bad decisions. She has always put herself before the child. It is clear to me that this child will not be raised in a safe environment. Do I have' a chance of getting custody? And if so, what would be the best way of obtaining custody?]]></description>
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