Yesterday I downloaded NH’s “Petition to Terminate Parental Rights” form. I will filling it out and when I came to #8 I was a little confused:
The court has jurisdiction because the child is present in the State or is in the legal custody or legal guardianship of an authorized agency located in the state, and the child, parent or guardian resides in the county.
So I called the courthouse for the umpteenth time in the last few days and asked the woman to explain. I said we’re military so we’re not currently present in the state but our original custody case was filed there in 2006. She asked for the case name, she looked it up, and put me on hold.
When she came back she told me we have to file the petition to terminate parental rights forms in NC, since we have lived here for three years and the children are here with us. This is also where we will file for stepparent adoption.
Awesome news! This means we don’t have to worry about flying all five of us to NH to appear before a judge!! We will be doing everything right here in the county where we currently live. What a relief.
NC laws are almost identical to NH laws regarding stepparent adoption and termination of parental rights. The only difference I could find, in my many many hours researching, is that in NH the age a child has to be to consent to an adoption is 14, in NC the age is 12. So by the time we do this, Gillian will be 12 and she will have to sign the paperwork and appear before a judge.
She’s cool with it. She seems to think that if anything happens to me she can stay here with Bryan. Last night I explained to her she would not be able to, she would have to go live with her bio-dad. She said they can’t really force her to do that and I told her they can and they will.
We’re not pressuring her. We asked her what she wanted, what she prefers and that we will not push forward with this if they don’t want us to. Her main concern and only question was whether or not her aunts would still be her aunts and if she could use her middle name because her middle name sounds better with what would be her adopted last name.
I went to JAG yesterday but they were closed for lunch, when I went back they were so ridiculously busy that I just turned and walked out, then came home and called. They told me to call back today and they will make me an appointment for next week.
I also emailed a few law firms in town with just some general questions. We’ll see. One law firm emailed me back already and it seems that it would be cheaper than I thought it would be to hire a lawyer, considerably cheaper than the number I had in my head.
That is where we’re at for now. Can’t really do anything for at least six months…
I hope it works out great and Im sure it will. My mom and bio dad split when I was one and I never heard from the guy. My mom met my DAD when I was ten and a year or so later I was able to become his son by name. It was awesome. Even the name was better. Lazazzera to Serene. Hell Yeah. My DAD is the best man in the world to me. He raised me and treats my mom great and that is the best part. Im sure it will all work out for you and the kids and your awesome husband who is great to accept the role. I cant wait to hear when the news comes. I know you will be happy for the simple fact that the kids will be happy.
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