What if the biological father refuses to consent to adoption in Connecticut?

If the biological father refuses to consent in Connecticut, your adoption is not necessarily over. The Probate Court looks at the facts of your situation, and one question it can consider is abandonment under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-717. How that applies to your family depends on the details.

How abandonment is judged. Connecticut sets no fixed number of months for abandonment. It depends on the parent's overall conduct. There is no countdown you can point to, such as "he has been gone this long, so the case qualifies." The court looks at the whole picture. Facts that are usually worth gathering include:

• When he last saw or spoke with your child
• Whether he has stayed in touch through calls, cards, or messages
• Whether he has helped support your child financially or emotionally
• Whether he has played any real role in your child's daily life

Write these down with dates, and keep any messages, court orders, or payment records you have. Clear records help you and the court see what has actually happened.

What a refusal means in practice. A father saying "I don't consent" is one piece of information. Whether his refusal can be set aside depends on the facts above and on how the Probate Court applies the law to them. If he is actively involved in your child's life and is fighting the adoption, your case may be contested. In that situation, please talk to an attorney about your specific circumstances. The Probate Court clerk in your county can also explain how contested matters are handled and what additional steps or timing may apply.

If your stepchild is an adult. Connecticut has a separate adult adoption route. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-734, the adopter and adoptee sign a written agreement, and the Probate Court approves it after a hearing if it finds the two share a relationship similar to that of a parent and an adult child, and that the adoption is in their best interests. No requirement of consent from the biological parents appears in that statute. Adult adoptions typically take about 4-8 weeks. If the adoptee is married, the spouse must give written consent under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-735.

Timing. A stepparent adoption of a minor child in Connecticut typically takes about 3-6 months. A contested situation can change that, so ask the clerk what to expect in your county.

Before you file. It helps to know where the father stands. Is he reachable? Has he said anything in writing? Has he been involved at all? These are questions to raise with the Probate Court clerk or an attorney, because the right approach depends on your family's situation.

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. Documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. The price is $349 for the first child (or for one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child, backed by a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 158 Connecticut families and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.