need advice on stepparent adoption

[regan2004]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

My husband and I have been married for less than 2 months, he is the only father my daughter has only known. The biologlical father agrees to signing over all rights for an adoption so he can get out of paying child support. I was wondering if anyone knew what Ohio's state law is in stepparent adoption and where do I get started?

The biological father is pushing to get this started and finished as soon as possible and I was hoping to get a estimate on cost so I can tell him how much I can't afford to do this right now. If anyone knows I would love the help!! thank you!

[seniorjudge]

The first thing you need to do is hire a lawyer.

The first thing the father needs to do is hire a lawyer.

[milspecgirl]

and you normally need to be married at least a year

[penny4u]

I'm in Ohio too and my husband COULD have adopted my son right away ONLY because we were together for 7 years before we got married and could prove that. However, we were married over a year due to complications to our case before the actual adoption (you can look up my username to find out why...it's complicated) How long have you been with your husband? How old is your child?

Everyone else is right. You need a lawyer. Trust me though, it's worth the money. Find it somehow if this is what the three of you want. No one can give you an exact amount on what it will cost. When we ended in an adoption in my case my lawyer just charged me 500.00 for the adoption but I knew he did MUCH more than that before hand and DIDN'T charge me because of the BS we went through. I had an exact tally of what he should have billed me...to the hour for the adoption...1,300. So I sent him 1,500. I am not rich by any sense...but I would have paid anything for my son to have his real (legal) father and appreciated the year and a half my attorney spent dealing with me. By the way, I had a high priced attorney due to my case. Don't let me figures scare you, but it might be realistic.

Call around. You really need an attorney to handle this.

[regan2004]

My husband and I started dating when I was 3 months pregnant with my daughter. December we will be together 2 years.

Thank you everyone for all for advice, I actually got a lot more answers here than anywhere else I have looked for help.