Can I adopt my soon to be step son without his no good father's permission? My fiance' and I think that I can?

I really don't think that you can adopt your step son without his father's permission. As long as his father is still in the picture, you have no legal rights. The best thing that you can do is continue to be a good step father to little Marcus. He will appreciate you so much when he is all grown up.

For an adoption you would either need to get a court order or have his biological father agree to give up his parental rights. This can be quite difficult and may take years to actually materialise. However the court would be able to decide that the adoption can go ahead without the permission of the biological father. (This is quite rare though)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Adoptionfoster...

There is an alternative to adoption which would be gaining parental responsibility for the child - you can read more about it in the website provided above.

I can tell from what you are saying that you honestly want the best for your step-son however on the other side, if Marcus Sr has made an effort with his biological son and has managed to turn his life around and is promising to be a good father (and is no longer involved with drugs or alcohol obviously) - he may deserve a second chance to be a part of his childs life. People can change and perhaps he choose not to be involved in his childs life because of the lifestyle which he was leading! That doesn't mean that there isn't room for you as well!

You can't hold someones past history against them for the rest of their lives! You should give Marcus Sr a chance to prove himself, having supervised visits ect - If he truly cares about him he'll stick around and be a good parent however if not you will still be there (as his father) supporting and looking after him! (remember you can get parental responsibility).

Good Luck! :)

You can still be a good father and positive influence in his life, but unless the biological dad gives up his parental rights, you won't be able to legally adopt him. The best you can do is be a good role model - don't go punching anyone:) And try to minimize the amount of time he gets to spend with the biological dad by going to court with the allegations you have made above.

I think that you have to have permission from his biological father in order for you to adopt your step son. I really commend you for being such a good step father to this little boy but unfortunately his no good "father" still has some legal rights.

I think he has to give up parental rights for you to do that or give permission. You can however continue to be the wonderful father you have been. When your son comes home from his biological fathers house miserable, show him how much you love him. It doesn't have to be on paper that he's your son to show him you love him. My dad raised my 2 step brothers and they call him dad but legally he is not their dad.

It takes more then just being a sperm donor to be a father.

You cannot adopt your step son unless his father relinquishes his parental rights. There are ways to have his rights involuntarily terminated (see the link below), but it is very difficult. You might be able to have his rights terminated on grounds of abandonment, but he can just as easily go to the hearing and tell the judge that he has his act together, and that he is ready to be a parent.

i'm pretty sure you can, since Marcus hasn't taken any of his responsibility and he wouldn't make a good father anyway. People like Marcus shouldn't be someone called a father!