Do I need my stepdaughters biological fathers consent to adopt her?

No, you most likely do not need the biological father's consent.

This is the #1 question we get, and here's the good news: over 80% of the 34,000+ adoptions we've helped families complete were finalized WITHOUT the other parent's consent. This is completely normal and extremely common.

Here's how it works in Texas (and most states):

If the biological father has abandoned your stepdaughter — meaning he has not maintained a meaningful parental relationship with her — the court can proceed with the adoption without his consent. In Texas, abandonment is typically defined as 6 months without contact or support.

Important clarifications:

• "Token contact" doesn't count. An occasional phone call or one visit in six months is not a meaningful relationship.
• Child support payments don't negate abandonment. Many parents pay support (especially if they're in the military or want to keep their job) but have no actual relationship with the child. The court looks at the relationship, not the payments.

The court is very familiar with completing stepparent adoptions without the other parent's consent. The court wants your stepdaughter to have the unity and security of a two-parent home — they're enthusiastic about these adoptions.

What if you don't know where he is? Also very common. He would be served by "publication" (a legal notice in a newspaper). We help you through this process — it's fairly straightforward.

Do you have questions about your specific situation? For example, how long has it been since he's had meaningful contact with her?