Can I adopt my stepchild if the bio parent only sends texts to my spouse but never contacts the child in Connecticut?

You may be able to, but in Connecticut it depends on the bio parent's overall conduct, not on texts alone. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-717, abandonment has no fixed number of months. There is no set waiting period that automatically makes a parent's silence count, and no set period that rules it out.

Why your situation is a fact question: A parent who texts your spouse but never contacts the child is in a middle zone. The statute looks at the whole picture, so the Probate Court will weigh what this parent has actually done. Whether texts to your spouse change that picture is for the court to decide on your specific facts. If your case is contested, or you aren't sure how the bio parent will respond, talk to an attorney or the Probate Court clerk in your county.

Facts worth writing down:

• When the bio parent last saw, called or wrote to the child directly
• What the texts to your spouse actually say, and whether they ever mention or reach the child
• Whether the bio parent has taken part in the child's school, activities or medical care
• Any gifts, support or other involvement, or the lack of it

A clear, dated record helps you describe the situation accurately, whatever the outcome.

Other Connecticut basics that may matter to you:

• Court: Stepparent adoptions are handled by the Probate Court.
• Residency: Connecticut has no minimum residency period under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-727.
• Child's consent: A child who is 12 or older has a consent role under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-724.
• Home study: It is waived under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-733(a).
• Timeline: A stepparent adoption typically takes 3-6 months.

What we can't answer here: Whether the bio parent must consent or receive notice, and how the court treats a parent who stays in touch with only the other adult, are questions to confirm with the Probate Court clerk in your county or an attorney. The clerk can also confirm the current filing fee and local filing steps.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The cost is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we offer a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 158 Connecticut families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.