Nextwife, you are missing it completely just so you can go on your banter with how many people you know who have done (and I'm surprised your parents haven't done it). Do you realize that the OP is asking how her boyfriend can adopt her child and terminate JUST the father's rights?
So what. You had no relationship with either of your child's bioparents. Are one of your child's bioparents STILL their parent or are you and your husband your child's sole legal parents????
Yes, I realized what she intended to ask.
I responded to what she did actually ask, which was basically : Can my boyfriend ADOPT my child. (which was NOT "can he do a step adoption") :
Yes, if he can pass a home study and qualify to adopt as a single, he may be able to adopt your child - if dad agrees. However, it won't be as a stepparent, it would be as a single parent. At some point after you marry him, you can do a step parent adoption and become the child's mother legally.
To which MY response was then responded to, to say that a judge would never allow someone who doesn't even have a relationship with Mom to adopt . . .
Thus my subsequent response that doing a legal adoption does not require a relationship with the bioparent(s).
My response WAS legally correct: Her boyfriend "can" adopt" this child or any other child in which the bio-parents are willing if he can pass a home study and is otherwise qualified, as a single adoptive parent, without the requirement of a commitment to one of the bioparents.
That is the only adoption that can occur of this child by boyfriend under the current relationship.