Questions answered by Michele Gentry Hinz

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How can I change my step son's last name to mine on his birth certificate? can I change the name of the father to mine too?

Michele's answer | Answered on July 19, 2010

I am not licensed to practice law in California, but in general, a name change will not place your name on your stepson's's birth certificate,...

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Only one parent on the birth certificate wanting to adopt

Michele's answer | Answered on July 19, 2010

I am not licensed to practice law in California, but in general, a name change will not place your husband's name on your daughter's birth...

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Can a step dad adopt my son if i dont give my consent

Michele's answer | Answered on July 18, 2010

I am an adoption lawyer, not a custody lawyer, so I will limit my answer to the adoption issue in your question. In a stepparent adoption, the...

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When a stepfather wants to adopt, does the procedure always include obtaning a social worker?

Michele's answer | Answered on June 18, 2010

When a stepparent is adopting a minor child, the law does require that a report be filed to advise the court whether or not the proposed adoption...

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How does my husband adopt my daughter? My daughers biological father has given the permission for him to adopt.

Michele's answer | Answered on April 17, 2010

Since your daughter's biological father will consent to the adoption it should be a fairly straightforward process. He will need to sign a consent...

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Qualify for abandondment?

Michele's answer | Answered on April 15, 2010

I would suggest contacting him, or having an adoption attorney contact him on your behalf, to see if he would be willing to consent to the...

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How do you change a child's last name to a step parents when the bio father is not involved in his life and is not on the BC?

Michele's answer | Answered on April 12, 2010

An adoption by your fiance would be considered a "second parent adoption" rather than a "stepparent adoption", but the process is very similar,...

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My daughter is 18 she was adopted at 8 by sisters father and wife has lived with birth mother for 7y wants birth mother changed

Michele's answer | Answered on April 08, 2010

If I understand your question correctly, your daughter would like to have her birth certificate changed to show her birth mother, rather than her...

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Step parent adoption, and termination of non custodial parents rights

Michele's answer | Answered on April 05, 2010

You are right about Justin's situation being the easiest from a legal standpoint. Because the biological father is not living, you will,...

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Can my Fiance Adopt my children

Michele's answer | Answered on April 05, 2010

Yes, this is possible. Whether or not it can actually happen in your case will depend on whether an adoption social worker and the court believe...

Michele Gentry Hinz's Answers (83)

How can I change my step son's last name to mine on his birth certificate? can I change the name of the father to mine too?

Only one parent on the birth certificate wanting to adopt

Can a step dad adopt my son if i dont give my consent

When a stepfather wants to adopt, does the procedure always include obtaning a social worker?

How does my husband adopt my daughter? My daughers biological father has given the permission for him to adopt.

Qualify for abandondment?

How do you change a child's last name to a step parents when the bio father is not involved in his life and is not on the BC?

My daughter is 18 she was adopted at 8 by sisters father and wife has lived with birth mother for 7y wants birth mother changed

Step parent adoption, and termination of non custodial parents rights

Can my Fiance Adopt my children