This is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Call the adoption clerk at the circuit court in your county. In Maryland where I practice, the court provides pro se forms and guidance and sometimes can appoint a pro bono attorney to assist you in you qualify. If it is truly uncontested, the courts are usually friendly and want to make the system available to everyone not just those who can afford an attorney. Even if you don't have a lawyer for yourself of the biological father,...
You should immediately contacta private attorney in your home state, MIssouri. This does not have to be overly expensive as most states allow for private adoptions also called direct placements or independent adoption. The birth parents will have to have their own lawyer. Your lawyers can help you through the process without the need for an agency. If you all live in MIssouri you will not have to go through the ICPC process which can add cost but your courts may require you to have a home...
In Maryland or D.C. this is referred to as a "step-parent adoption" but each state has very specific laws that govern the factors that are taken into consideration in any adoption. If the father of the child will consent, this would be uncontested but if he objects you'd have to litigate the case. However, you must check with a lawyer in your State to learn the laws of your state and what exactly needs to be done.
In Maryland, the biological dad would have to adopt the child back to relieve you of any further financial responsibility and the court would have to find it is in the child's best interest before it would grant the biological father's adoption. Also, the mother would have to consent to the adoption and if the child is 10 years old or older, the child would have to consent. The law in D.C. is similar except a child at age 14 has to consent. Each state has specific laws about this so check...
I am an Maryland attorney so my answer is based on Maryland Law. You should speak with a Missouri attorney about this matter and find out what the laws in that State allow you to do. In Maryland, a child born during the marriage is presumed to be the child of the husband and wife. A person must show that it is in the child's best interests that paternity be established before the Court will allow a patenity test to determine the biological father to be someone other than the husband. In the...