One of my stepchildren's father consents but the other's doesn't — can I still adopt both in Alaska?

Possibly yes, but each child's situation turns on their own father. The consent you have from one father covers only his child. For the other child, the adoption can go forward only if that father consents or Alaska law allows the court to proceed without his consent, which depends on your facts.

What the consenting father's child needs. If that father signs his consent, his child's adoption is on a more straightforward path. If either child is 10 or older, that child's own consent is also addressed under Alaska Stat. § 25.23.040.

What the other child's adoption depends on. There are two main possibilities:

• He changes his mind and consents. Then both adoptions can look much alike.
• He still doesn't consent. Alaska's abandonment provision, Alaska Stat. § 25.23.050(a)(1)-(2), uses a six-month period. Whether his absence or lack of contact meets that provision is a question of facts, and a court decides it.

If he actively objects, the case becomes contested. How the Superior Court handles a contested case, what notice he must receive, and what proof the judge will want are questions for the Superior Court clerk in your borough or for an Alaska family law attorney. A contested case is the point where many families bring in an attorney for that specific issue.

What stays simpler in Alaska:

• Court: Your petition is filed in the Superior Court.
• Residency: There is no minimum residency period.
• Termination: Termination is not a separate proceeding in Alaska (terminationSeparate is false), so you don't file a separate case first.
• Home study: The home study is waived under Alaska Stat. § 25.23.100.

Timeline. Stepparent adoptions in Alaska typically take 3-6 months. A father who objects, or who is hard to locate, can change how long your case takes, and the clerk can tell you how your court handles that.

Practical steps:

• Gather proof for the non-consenting father. Collect anything showing when he last had contact or provided support, such as messages, court orders, and dates.
• Get the consenting father's signature. Do this properly and keep a copy.
• **Ask the cler