No contact

Perfect — this is actually one of the most straightforward adoption situations, and it's very common.

Since there's been no contact, the court will very likely approve the adoption based on abandonment. The other parent's refusal to consent (or inability to be found) won't stop the adoption from being finalized.

Here's what happens next in Missouri:

1. You file the adoption petition with the Circuit Court in your county

2. The other parent gets served — either by personal service if you know where they are, or by publication in a newspaper if you don't

3. The court reviews the abandonment evidence — the lack of contact speaks for itself

4. The adoption is finalized — typically about 3 months from filing

In your adoption documents, you'll include an affidavit explaining the lack of contact. Missouri courts are very experienced with this — they complete these adoptions regularly.

The costs you should budget for:

• Our service: $349 for one child ($95 each additional child)
• Court filing fee: Around $280 in Missouri
• Service of process: ~$50 (sheriff or publication)
• Background check: $50-$100
• Total: Approximately $700-$800 (vs. $2,500-$5,000+ with an attorney)

Missouri does sometimes require a home study, but courts often waive it for stepparent adoptions when the case is uncontested and the child has been living with you. We include the motion to request a waiver.

How long has it been since the other parent had contact with the child? Just want to make sure we're well past Missouri's 6-month threshold.